Trajectories of depression symptoms during the process of deployment in military couples.

Informed by life course theory, we estimated depression symptom trajectories for couples throughout a deployment cycle using data from a longitudinal study of National Guard couples (n= 339). One-third of couples served as a comparison group by participating in data collection after their deployments were canceled. We proposed that 1) service members and partners would display multiple trajectories of depression symptoms that differ as a function of role (i.e., service member or at-home partner) and exposure to deployment; 2) trajectory patterns would be associated with indicators of human capital; 3) service members' and partners' depression symptoms would be linked to each other. We found that depressive symptom trajectories varied by exposure to deployment and role, and that higher levels of human capital were mostly associated with lower depressive symptoms, although we did not find support for partner interdependence. Results were considered in the context of life course theory and emotional cycles of deployment.

The Social Construction of Transgender Individuals and U.S. Military Policy.

This article aims to apply the social construction of target populations to policy regarding transgender individuals in the U.S. military. After presenting an overview on diversity in the military, parallels were drawn between policy changes regarding the inclusion of openly transgender individuals in the military to those leading up to the inclusion of sexual minorities in the military. This article then details the controversy regarding the inclusion of transgender service members and compares the rationale given for their exclusion from the U.S. military to existing empirical research. Finally, the present work applies the social construction of target populations-a framework for understanding the public policy process-to discourse and policy decisions regarding transgender individuals and sexual minorities. By doing so, this article illustrates this theoretical framework's potential for illustrating the importance of social constructions in understanding the policy.

Homicide-suicide across the lifespan: a mixed methods examination of factors contributing to older adult perpetration.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to determine how individual and contextual factors that contribute to homicide-suicide (HS) differ between young adults, middle-aged adults, and older adults, and to describe, in detail, the circumstances that lead to HS by older adults. METHODS: Data were obtained from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Violent Death Reporting System. We used a sequential mixed methods approach to the analysis. Guided by the Marzuk HS framework, we conducted quantitative analyses to identify characteristics distinguishing older adult HS perpetrators from younger HS perpetrators. These results guided the qualitative content analysis, which further described the circumstances surrounding HS incidents perpetrated by older adults. RESULTS: While HS perpetrated by young and middle-aged adults were quite similar, the demographic characteristics, victim-perpetrator relationship, and contributing factors in HS incidents perpetrated by older adults were substantially different. Mental health and depressed mood were more common among older adult perpetrators, and jealousy, fights, and substance use issues were less common, relative to younger perpetrators. Escalating intimate partner violence and caregiving/health-related issues, including caregiving strain, housing transitions, and financial problems, were the primary contributors to older adult HS. CONCLUSION: HS perpetrated by older adults was both similar and different from incidents perpetrated by younger adults. Programs that prevent or de-escalate intimate partner violence would likely prevent many HS incidents perpetrated by older adults, but health and aging-related issues must also be considered.

The contribution of interpersonal violence victimization types to psychological distress among youth.

BACKGROUND: Associations between different types of victimization and symptomology among youth remain unclear due to methodological limitations preventing the identification of the independent contribution of each type of violence. OBJECTIVE: The purpose was to examine associations between different types of victimization and the odds of experiencing clinically significant levels of anxiety, depression, and anger/aggression. We also examined the unique contribution of each type of victimization to these outcomes. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were a nationally representative sample of youth ages 10-17 (n = 1019) who were residing in the United States when data were collected in 2002-2003. METHODS: Youth reported on their experiences of different forms of victimization (e.g., physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, sibling abuse, bullying, sexual assault, and witnessing violence) within the past year. Logistic regression and relative weights analyses were used to examine associations between victimization and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and anger/aggression. RESULTS: The prevalence of reported victimization ranged from 1.3 % for neglect to 41.3% for sibling abuse. Physical and emotional child abuse, sibling abuse, bullying, and emotional bullying were associated with increased odds of clinically significant anxiety, depression, and anger/aggression. Witnessing parent intimate partner violence was associated with increased odds of clinically significant anger/aggression. Witnessing parental assault of a sibling was associated with increased odds of clinically significant anxiety and anger/aggression. Emotional bullying predicted the largest percentage of variance in anxiety and depression, followed by emotional abuse and sibling aggression. CONCLUSIONS: These findings underscore the need for further assessment and treatment for sibling abuse and emotional bullying.

Continuity in Psychological Health and Role Functioning Across Deployment.

INTRODUCTION: Scholars have described military deployments as one of the most stressful aspects of life for military couples. Deployment affects multiple roles and family members, yet little is known about the degree to which postdeployment outcomes are accounted for by predeployment functioning independent of deployment experiences. METHODS: Data collection included in-person interviews with National Guard couples experiencing a deployment and a comparison group whose deployment was canceled abruptly. Using hierarchical regression, this study assessed (a) how much variance in postdeployment functioning was explained by predeployment functioning and (b) whether variance accounted for by predeployment functioning differed by domain, respondent, or deployment status. Posthoc analyses revealed which combinations of predeployment functioning accounted for the most variance in postdeployment outcomes. RESULTS: We found evidence of modest continuity between predeployment and postdeployment functioning, particularly for psychological functioning and partner role functioning, and fewer differences than expected in patterns between groups. Certain demographic characteristics, risk factors, and resources accounted for significant variance in postdeployment outcomes in addition to baseline levels of role functioning. CONCLUSIONS: Study findings reinforce the importance of predeployment preparation, providing families with resources to maximize resilience in response to the stress of deployment.