Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University (USU).
College of Behavioral, Social, and Health Sciences, Clemson University.
Psychol Serv. 2022 May;19(2):396-405. doi: 10.1037/ser0000523. Epub 2021 Apr 15.
Barriers to mental healthcare services are reported among military service members. However, little is known about these barriers among the spouses of military personnel, who face unique stressors and may subsequently be at high-need for mental health services. Understanding barriers to care among this vulnerable population may help improve access to psychological services. The current study utilized data from the Millennium Cohort Family Study. Participants were referred by their military spouses or through targeted mailers. Participants completed self-report measures of mood, psychosocial functioning, and perceived barriers to mental healthcare via web- or paper-based surveys. A factor analysis was conducted to identify subscales of the barriers to mental healthcare measure, and logistic regressions were conducted adjusting for relevant sociodemographic variables, to determine psychosocial factors associated with likelihood of reporting barriers to mental healthcare. The sample comprised 9,666 military spouses (86% female; Mage: 27.73 ± 5.09; 29.2% racial/ethnic minority; 19.5% with prior/current military service). Logistic factors were the most frequently reported barrier to care (63%), followed by negative beliefs about mental healthcare (52%), fear of social/occupational consequences (35%), and internalized stigma (32%). Spouses with prior or current military service themselves and individuals with a psychiatric condition were most likely to report barriers to mental healthcare. A preponderance of military spouses reported barriers to mental healthcare services. Prospective data are needed to elucidate the associations between barriers to care and mental healthcare utilization. Efforts may be warranted to improve access to mental healthcare among the spouses of military personnel. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).
军人的精神健康服务存在障碍。然而，关于军人配偶的这些障碍却鲜为人知，因为他们面临着独特的压力源，可能对精神健康服务有极高的需求。了解这一弱势群体的护理障碍可能有助于改善心理服务的获取。本研究利用了千禧年队列家庭研究的数据。参与者是通过他们的军人配偶介绍或通过有针对性的邮件被招募的。参与者通过网络或纸质调查完成了情绪、心理社会功能以及对精神健康护理障碍感知的自我报告测量。通过因子分析确定了精神健康护理障碍测量的子量表，通过逻辑回归调整了相关社会人口统计学变量，以确定与报告精神健康护理障碍的可能性相关的心理社会因素。样本包括 9666 名军人配偶（86%为女性；平均年龄 27.73±5.09；29.2%为少数民族/族裔；19.5%有过或正在服役）。逻辑因素是最常报告的护理障碍（63%），其次是对精神健康护理的负面看法（52%）、对社会/职业后果的恐惧（35%）和内化的耻辱感（32%）。有过或正在服役的配偶以及有精神疾病的个体最有可能报告精神健康护理障碍。大多数军人配偶报告了精神健康服务的障碍。需要前瞻性数据来阐明护理障碍与精神健康护理利用之间的关联。可能需要努力改善军人配偶的精神健康护理获取。（PsycInfo 数据库记录（c）2022 APA，保留所有权利）。
