The Australian Defence Force Mental Health Prevalence and Wellbeing Study: design and methods
Background: The Australian Defence Force (ADF) Mental Health Prevalence and Wellbeing Study (MHPWS) is the first study of mental disorder prevalence in an entire military population. Objective: The MHPWS aims to establish mental disorder prevalence, refine current ADF mental health screening methods...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2014-08-01
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| Series: | European Journal of Psychotraumatology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.ejpt.net/index.php/ejpt/article/download/23950/pdf_1 |
| _version_ | 1818318968485576704 |
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| author | Miranda Van Hooff Alexander C. McFarlane Christopher E. Davies Amelia K. Searle A. Kate Fairweather-Schmidt Alan Verhagen Helen Benassi Stephanie E. Hodson |
| author_facet | Miranda Van Hooff Alexander C. McFarlane Christopher E. Davies Amelia K. Searle A. Kate Fairweather-Schmidt Alan Verhagen Helen Benassi Stephanie E. Hodson |
| author_sort | Miranda Van Hooff |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The Australian Defence Force (ADF) Mental Health Prevalence and Wellbeing Study (MHPWS) is the first study of mental disorder prevalence in an entire military population. Objective: The MHPWS aims to establish mental disorder prevalence, refine current ADF mental health screening methods, and identify specific occupational factors that influence mental health. This paper describes the design, sampling strategies, and methodology used in this study. Method: At Phase 1, approximately half of all regular Navy, Army, and Air Force personnel (n=24,481) completed self-report questionnaires. At Phase 2, a stratified sub-sample (n=1,798) completed a structured diagnostic interview to detect mental disorder. Based on data from non-responders, data were weighted to represent the entire ADF population (n=50,049). Results: One in five ADF members met criteria for a 12-month mental disorder (22%). The most common disorder category was anxiety disorders (14.8%), followed by affective (9.5%) and alcohol disorders (5.2%). At risk ADF sub-groups were Army personnel, and those in the lower ranks. Deployment status did not have an impact on mental disorder rates. Conclusion: This study has important implications for mental health service delivery for Australian and international military personnel as well as contemporary veterans. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T10:01:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e0e5f4a407ab4851b314bce765bc555b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2000-8066 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T10:01:39Z |
| publishDate | 2014-08-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Psychotraumatology |
| spelling | doaj.art-e0e5f4a407ab4851b314bce765bc555b2022-12-21T23:51:38ZengTaylor & Francis GroupEuropean Journal of Psychotraumatology2000-80662014-08-015011210.3402/ejpt.v5.2395023950The Australian Defence Force Mental Health Prevalence and Wellbeing Study: design and methodsMiranda Van Hooff0Alexander C. McFarlane1Christopher E. Davies2Amelia K. Searle3A. Kate Fairweather-Schmidt4Alan Verhagen5Helen Benassi6Stephanie E. Hodson7 Centre for Traumatic Stress Studies, The University of Adelaide, South Australia Centre for Traumatic Stress Studies, The University of Adelaide, South Australia Data Management and Analysis Centre, Discipline of Public Health, The University of Adelaide, South Australia Centre for Traumatic Stress Studies, The University of Adelaide, South Australia School of Psychology, Flinders University, South Australia Mental Health, Psychology and Rehabilitation Branch, Joint Health Command, Department of Defence, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia Mental Health, Psychology and Rehabilitation Branch, Joint Health Command, Department of Defence, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia Department of Veterans' Affairs, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, AustraliaBackground: The Australian Defence Force (ADF) Mental Health Prevalence and Wellbeing Study (MHPWS) is the first study of mental disorder prevalence in an entire military population. Objective: The MHPWS aims to establish mental disorder prevalence, refine current ADF mental health screening methods, and identify specific occupational factors that influence mental health. This paper describes the design, sampling strategies, and methodology used in this study. Method: At Phase 1, approximately half of all regular Navy, Army, and Air Force personnel (n=24,481) completed self-report questionnaires. At Phase 2, a stratified sub-sample (n=1,798) completed a structured diagnostic interview to detect mental disorder. Based on data from non-responders, data were weighted to represent the entire ADF population (n=50,049). Results: One in five ADF members met criteria for a 12-month mental disorder (22%). The most common disorder category was anxiety disorders (14.8%), followed by affective (9.5%) and alcohol disorders (5.2%). At risk ADF sub-groups were Army personnel, and those in the lower ranks. Deployment status did not have an impact on mental disorder rates. Conclusion: This study has important implications for mental health service delivery for Australian and international military personnel as well as contemporary veterans.http://www.ejpt.net/index.php/ejpt/article/download/23950/pdf_1Prevalencemilitarymental disorderaffectiveanxietyalcohol |
| spellingShingle | Miranda Van Hooff Alexander C. McFarlane Christopher E. Davies Amelia K. Searle A. Kate Fairweather-Schmidt Alan Verhagen Helen Benassi Stephanie E. Hodson The Australian Defence Force Mental Health Prevalence and Wellbeing Study: design and methods European Journal of Psychotraumatology Prevalence military mental disorder affective anxiety alcohol |
| title | The Australian Defence Force Mental Health Prevalence and Wellbeing Study: design and methods |
| title_full | The Australian Defence Force Mental Health Prevalence and Wellbeing Study: design and methods |
| title_fullStr | The Australian Defence Force Mental Health Prevalence and Wellbeing Study: design and methods |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Australian Defence Force Mental Health Prevalence and Wellbeing Study: design and methods |
| title_short | The Australian Defence Force Mental Health Prevalence and Wellbeing Study: design and methods |
| title_sort | australian defence force mental health prevalence and wellbeing study design and methods |
| topic | Prevalence military mental disorder affective anxiety alcohol |
| url | http://www.ejpt.net/index.php/ejpt/article/download/23950/pdf_1 |
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