Does mental health stigma change across the deployment cycle?

Abstract

Objectives: Prior research on mental health stigma in military personnel has been cross-sectional. We prospectively examined the course of perceived mental health stigma in a cohort of deployed U.S. combat Marines. Methods: Participants (N = 768) were assessed 1 month before a 7-month deployment to Afghanistan, and again at 1, 5, and 8 months postdeployment. We also examined three predictors of the course of stigma: post-traumatic stress disorder symptom severity, vertical and horizontal unit cohesion, and mental health treatment utilization while deployed. Results: Perceptions of stigma remained largely stable across the deployment cycle, with latent growth curve analyses revealing a statistically significant but small decrease in stigma over time. Lower post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and greater perceived vertical and horizontal support predicted decreases in stigma over time, whereas mental health treatment utilization in theater did not predict the course of stigma. Conclusions: Perceived stigma was low and largely stable over time.