Life Events in Health Care Providers before and during Persian Gulf War Deployment: The USNS Comfort

Abstract

Just before the onset of Operation Desert Storm, health care personnel (N = 250) onboard the USNS Comfort reported the occurrence of life events for the preceding year, including before deployment and during the Persian Gulf War. Study participants noted both total and negative life events. The mean number of negative life events during the preceding year was 1.44; a sizable proportion of participants (38%) reported no negative life events during this time. There were no differences in the mean number of total or negative life events by gender, although women checked significantly more life event items related to interpersonal factors and men noted more life events concerning financial issues. Women, nurses, the childless, and lower ranking officers noted significantly greater negative life events during predeployment than deployment. Negative life events were moderately related to anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. Both research and policy implications are discussed.