Reed-Fitzke Presents Latest IA-RECS Project
at the American Psychological Association’s (APA)
2020 virtual conference
Watch Dr. Kayla Reed-Fitzke’s virtual presentation of
“The Moderating Role of Resilience: ACEs and Soldiers-in-Training Mental Health”
Military Families Across the Lifespan Symposium
presented at the
National Council on Family Relations 2019 conference
Identifying at-risk U.S. Army soldiers-in-training based on adverse childhood experiences
There are over 3.5 million individuals serving in the military (U.S. DoD, 2014), who are placed in environments, characterized by transition and stress (Blaisure et al., 2012). As junior service members (SMs) progress through their military career, they will likely be confronted with numerous military stressors. Given the military’s desire to maintain mission readiness and respond to rising global threats quickly (U.S. DoD, 2016), it is imperative to identify areas of intervention early in the SMs’ training to promote optimal functioning and health. Widely recognized as a risk factor for health (e.g., physical, psychological, and social) well into adulthood are adverse childhood experiences (Reuben et al., 2016). The goal of this study was to use stress process (Pearlin et al., 1981) to identify typologies of new SMs based on risk (socioeconomic, neglect, sexual trauma, exposure to physical violence, emotional trauma, parental absence, impaired parenting, and removal from home) and to examine differences in mental health (anxiety, depression, PTSD) and a resilient mindset to identify those who may benefit from resources at basic.
Combat-related traumatic experiences and the health of aging veterans
As individual’s age they face health challenges that require health care services at higher rates than younger populations (Lubitz et al., 2001). Research has indicated veterans tend to have higher health care expenditures than civilians because they are more likely to report their health is poor, to have clinically diagnosed disabilities, and to have prior exposure to combat-related traumatic experiences (CRTE; e.g., witnessing dead bodies; West & Weeks, 2009). this study considers two primary research questions: What type of health care facilities and services are veterans using and are they adequately meeting veteran’s needs (RQ1)? What is the role of CRTE in veteran’s health and health care utilization (RQ2)? This study used secondary data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS, 2016) to explore these research questions. The HRS is a repeated measures panel study of older adults with questionnaires administered biennially. The current analyses utilized a subsample of veterans who completed core questionnaires and participated in a 2013 veteran mail survey (n=1,463).
A comparison of U.S. military veterans and civilians leisure participation and its association with psychological adversity and health care visits among older adults
Transitioning into older adulthood represents a unique time that includes health changes. aging military veterans are particularly vulnerable to poor health outcomes (Hoerster et al., 2012) and as the DoD continually meets recruitment goals (DoD, 2015) the veteran population who will likely experience stressors will continue to grow. Because of aging challenges for both civilians and veterans, it is important to explore mechanisms that may influence health care visits (HCV) to better understand older adults’ engagement in health services to promote optimal functioning through the aging process. Research has shown social isolation to be linked to higher psychological adversity (PA; Coyle & Dugan, 2012) and social engagement has been linked to lower PA (Cheery et al., 2013). Research shows that serious leisure participation (SLP) creates environments that facilitate relatedness for older adults, however, less is known about how SLP plays a role among veterans and if associations between SLP and HCVs are significantly different for veterans compared to civilians.
Adapting the Together We Can Program for Military Families
As of 2015, there were 1,000,000+ active duty service members in the United States (Parker et al., 2017). To be effective soldiers, military members must manage typical stressors that civilians encounter and military stressors such as combat activities, frequent relocation, and multiple transitions and separations (Blaisure et al., 2012). Their job does not end after leaving the workplace and often impacts family members. Servicemembers are frequently concerned about the effect their job has on their families (Blaisure et al., 2012). Together We Can (TWC) is a seven-week program designed by cooperative extension for single or struggling parents to enhance goal-setting, dual parent involvement, and healthy communication (Michigan State University Board of Trustees, 2009). TWC was designed for and has been widely implemented in civilian community settings nationwide. Despite the programs’ strengths, two primary issues exist for implementation with military families: (a) the curriculum does not address military-specific experiences, and (b) the format of a regular multi-week meeting schedule is not convenient or practical for military families
Featured Research Articles
A Growth Curve Analysis of Self-Esteem and Depressive Symptomatology Throughout Emerging Adulthood: The Role of Family
Research suggests family-level factors remain an important contributor to emerging adult mental health. Guided by the stress process framework, this study used latent growth curve modeling to examine the role of parent–child relationships, specifically emotional closeness and conflict, in child self-esteem and depression throughout emerging adulthood. Longitudinal associations between self-esteem and depression were also explored using four waves of data from the Longitudinal Study of Generations (N = 196 emerging adults; M = 20.88 years old at Wave 1). This period was characterized by steep increases in self-esteem and decreases in depression. Findings suggested parent–child emotional closeness and conflict in early emerging adulthood were associated with the intercept of self-esteem and were indirectly related to the intercept of depression through self-esteem; the rate of change in self-esteem predicted the rate of change in depression.
Psychometric Evaluation of the Multidimensional Co-Parenting Scale for Dissolved Relationships
This paper introduces and validates a measurement tool that provides a more nuanced perspective of the quality of co-parenting behaviors, the Multidimensional Co-Parenting Scale for Dissolved Relationships (MCS-DR). Participants were divorced or currently divorcing parents recruited through a Qualtrics panel (N = 569) to take a university-sponsored, state-approved curriculum, “Successful Co-Parenting After Divorce” and respond to a series of surveys about their experiences in the divorce process. Exploratory factor analysis was used to identify the underlying factor structure of the initial measurement item pool. A final measure which consisted of 22 items across four subscales (Overt Conflict, Support, Self-Controlled Covert Conflict, and Externally-Controlled Covert Conflict).
The Role of Social Support in Predicting Depression and Task Overload Among College Students
Research Guided by the Relationships Motivation Theory, this short-term longitudinal study examined associations between social support (i.e., relatedness), depression, and stress in the form of task overload among emerging adult, university students (N = 184 at time one; N = 105 at time two; 69.2% female). Results from a series of path models indicated a significant relationship between decreased perceptions of social support over time and an increase in perceived task overload with significant mediating effects through depressive symptomology. Implications for counseling services as well as intervention and awareness points for university professionals are discussed.
Featured Research Presentations
Community-Based Sampling Techniques: Leveraging Available Archival Data to Drive Research
This presentation will present primary data collection techniques using archival data to identify participants. Often it can be difficult for new professionals and students to access to primary data and the use of secondary data can limit theoretical and sampling options. Data from three different studies will be presented including Long Term Care in Arkansas, Parenting After Divorce, and Co-Parenting Across Households. Preliminary results provide detailed comparisons from collected samples to target populations. The presentation will aim to assist students and new professionals to examine the pros and cons of using community-based sampling and provide tools for future use.
Factors Related to Treatment-Seeking among Military Members
Military careers provide opportunities for professional development, yet they also enhance one’s risk of mental health symptomology. Servicemembers have higher rates of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) compared to the general population (Blosnich et al., 2014). ACEs have been shown to influence adult functioning in negative ways (Danese & McEwen, 2012; Reuben et al., 2016), yet servicemembers with ACEs may be at higher risk for negative outcomes due to the compounding risk of childhood and military trauma. Guided by stress process framework, data from the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Ursano et al., 2015) were used, specifically a sample of 30,836 soldiers at the beginning of Army training identified factors related to seeking treatment. Stepwise multiple regression analyses were utilized to identify the most salient factors (e.g., history treatment seeking, , mental health) related to the likelihood of seeking help Findings provide leverage points for targeting stigma associated with mental health among servicemembers, specifically those dealing with a history of ACEs. Suggestions for treatments, future research, will be provide.
A comparison of U.S. military veterans and civilians leisure participation and its association with psychological adversity and health care visits among older adults
Transitioning into older adulthood represents a unique time that includes health changes. According to the stress process framework (Pearlin et al., 1981), aging U.S. military veterans are particularly vulnerable to poor health outcomes (Hoerster et al., 2012) and as the DoD continually meets recruitment goals (DoD, 2015) the veteran population who will likely experience universal stressors and military specific stressors will continue to grow. Because of aging challenges for both civilians and veterans, it is important to explore mechanisms that may influence health care visits (HCV) to better understand older adults’ engagement in health services to promote optimal functioning through the aging process.We hypothesized that SLP and HCV would be related indirectly through PA (anxiety, depression, and stress; H1). Next, we hypothesized veteran status would be a moderator of this relationship (H2). Our supposition is that SLP acts as an environment that break down perceptions of mental health stigma and provides individuals with meaningful connections encouraging them to go to the doctor when necessary. Data originated from NSHAP (Waite et al., 2010-2011), a longitudinal nationally representative study of individuals over age 57. 2435 answered a military history question (22.5% had prior military service). Most were male (48%) and White (79.5%).