Gender differences in prevalence and outcomes of exposure to potentially morally injurious events among post-9/11 veterans

Our goal was to identify gender differences in the prevalence and outcomes of exposure to potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs) in a sample of U.S. military veterans. In a national sample of post-9/11 veterans (n = 7200) weighted to reflect the larger population of newly separated U.S. veterans, we conducted gender-stratified analyses of the prevalence of exposure to PMIEs and their associations with psychological and functional problems. Veterans reported exposures stemming from witnessing (27.9%), perpetrating (18.8%), and being betrayed (41.1%). Women more frequently reported witnessing- and betrayal-based PMIEs, but no gender differences were observed for perpetration-based PMIEs. Psychological distress was associated with witnessing and betrayal among women and with witnessing, betrayal, and perpetration among men. Whereas betrayal was most consistently associated with functional impairment across domains for women, perpetration was most consistently associated with functional impairment for men. Moral injury contributes to psychological and functional problems among a significant minority of military veterans, although effects vary based on PMIE type and gender. Implications for veterans and other populations who experience moral injury are discussed.

Files

Metadata

Work Title Gender differences in prevalence and outcomes of exposure to potentially morally injurious events among post-9/11 veterans
Access
Open Access
Creators
  1. Shira Maguen
  2. Brandon J. Griffin
  3. Laurel A. Copeland
  4. Daniel F Perkins
  5. Erin P. Finley
  6. Dawne Vogt
License CC BY 4.0 (Attribution)
Work Type Article
Publication Date November 2020
Deposited January 02, 2025

Versions

Analytics

Collections

This resource is currently not in any collection.

Work History

Version 1
published

  • Created
  • Updated
  • Updated Description, Publication Date Show Changes
    Description
    • Our goal was to identify gender differences in the prevalence and outcomes of exposure to potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs) in a sample of U.S. military veterans. In a national sample of post-9/11 veterans (n = 7200) weighted to reflect the larger population of newly separated U.S. veterans, we conducted gender-stratified analyses of the prevalence of exposure to PMIEs and their associations with psychological and functional problems. Veterans reported exposures stemming from witnessing (27.9%), perpetrating (18.8%), and being betrayed (41.1%). Women more frequently reported witnessing- and betrayal-based PMIEs, but no gender differences were observed for perpetration-based PMIEs. Psychological distress was associated with witnessing and betrayal among women and with witnessing, betrayal, and perpetration among men. Whereas betrayal was most consistently associated with functional impairment across domains for women, perpetration was most consistently associated with functional impairment for men. Moral injury contributes to psychological and functional problems among a significant minority of military veterans, although effects vary based on PMIE type and gender. Implications for veterans and other populations who experience moral injury are discussed.
    Publication Date
    • 2020-11
  • Added Creator Shira Maguen
  • Added Creator Brandon J. Griffin
  • Added Creator Laurel A. Copeland
  • Added Creator Daniel F Perkins
  • Added Creator Erin P. Finley
  • Added Creator Dawne Vogt
  • Added Maguen et al gender diffs in moral injury 2020.pdf
  • Updated License Show Changes
    License
    • https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
  • Published
  • Updated