Women veteran transition mental health and well-being support group programs: A scoping review-Reference-Cited by-同舟云学术

Women veteran transition mental health and well-being support group programs: A scoping review

Published:2024-01 Issue: Volume:20 Page:
ISSN:1745-5057
Container-title:Women's Health
language:en
Short-container-title:Womens Health (Lond Engl)

Author:

Lawn Sharon¹²³^ORCID,Waddell Elaine¹²,Roberts Louise¹²,McNeill Liz¹²⁴⁵,Rioseco Pilar⁵,Wadham Ben¹²⁶,Sharp Tiffany²⁷,Beks Tiffany²⁸,Lane Jon⁹^ORCID,Hooff Miranda Van¹⁰,Mohammadi Leila¹¹

Affiliation:

1. College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia

2. Open Door Initiative, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia

3. Lived Experience Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia

4. College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia

5. Australian Institute of Family Studies, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

6. College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia

7. Cambrian Executive, Adelaide, SA, Australia

8. Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada

9. School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia

10. Military and Services Health Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia

11. Central Coast Local Health District, Gosford, NSW, Australia

Abstract

Background: The military is a male-dominated environment and culture in which women veterans can experience significant institutional prejudice. Transition can be confusing and isolating for women veterans. Group programs are an important source of transition support. However, we know little about the specific group program needs of women veterans. Objectives: To examine mental health and well-being support group programs delivered to women veterans, to understand what they value and find most helpful. Eligibility Criteria: Women military veterans (all types); empirical studies using any design; published between 1990 and 2022; group programs focused on transition issues (such as housing, employment, education, physical health, mental health). Sources of Evidence: Peer-reviewed journals and theses. Charting Methods: Six databases searched: Medline (via Ovid SP), PsycINFO (via Ovid SP), EmCare (via Ovid SP), CINAHL, Scopus, and ProQuest. Results: There was significant heterogeneity across 35 included studies in type of groups, program content and structure, length of sessions, measurement of impact, follow-up, and so forth. Most programs were delivered face to face. Physical health and preventative healthcare were important topics for women veterans, particularly reproductive health, mental health, and chronic pain. Groups that included physical activity, creative arts, and alternative therapies were beneficial to women’s physical and mental health. Strengths-based women-only groups, facilitated by women, that created safe spaces for women veterans to share their experiences, enhanced self-expression, agency, and self-empowerment. This was particularly important for women who had experience military sexual trauma. Conclusion: This review found a small but diverse range of group programs available for women veterans. Many program evaluations were of moderate or low quality and lacked sufficient information to determine whether benefits were sustained over time. No studies involved Australian women veterans. Despite these concerns, this review highlighted several useful lessons that could help inform improved design, delivery, and evaluation of group programs for women veterans.

Funder

Hospital Research Foundation

Publisher

SAGE Publications

Link

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/17455057241275441

Reference67 articles.

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