Abstract: This report examines the transition that female Service Leavers (SLs) make from the Armed Forces into civilian paid employment. Despite the fact that anecdotal evidence suggests that female SLs are highly valued by civilian employers, they have a lower employment rate (69 per cent) than male SLs (81 per cent), and a higher economic inactivity rate (20 per cent compared with 9 per cent for males), while their employment outcomes are mixed; higher proportions of female SLs, for example, enter professional occupations and caring, leisure and other service occupations. As the reasons behind this discrepancy were not known, the Forces in Mind Trust commissioned Cranfield University and the Institute for Employment Studies to carry out research to understand why economic inactivity is lower, and employment outcomes are currently less successful, for female compared to male SLs. This report presents the findings from the research study, along with conclusions and recommendations.
Abstract: Objective: The present study is a retrospective quasi-experimental study to evaluate the effectiveness of the Warrior PATHH (WP) program at improving posttraumatic growth (PTG) outcomes and reducing PTSD symptoms compared to a waitlist control among a sample of Veterans. Method: Participants (n = 164) were U.S. military Veterans with a history of trauma. Participants were either undergoing the Warrior PATHH program or a waitlist. Primary outcome measures were administered at baseline and at 90-day follow-up and consisted of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory – Expanded (PTGI-X) and the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Secondary outcome measures assessed psychosocial functioning and included measures of depression and anxiety symptoms, sleep, wellbeing, and social support. Results: Significant differences were observed between groups on the PTGI-X (F(1, 205) = 23.667, p < .001, partial η2 = 0.103), and the PCL-5 (F(1, 205) = 262.460, p < .001, partial η2 = 0.561) with the WP group showing significant positive psychological change following a traumatic event as measured by the PTGI-X and decreased PTSD symptoms as measured by the PCL-5 compared to those in the waitlist condition. Those in the treatment arm also demonstrated gains to psychosocial functioning. Conclusions: Consistent with previous research, participants in the Warrior PATHH program exhibited significant increases in PTG outcomes, decreased PTSD symptoms, and broad improvements to psychosocial functioning. These findings suggest it is an effective training program to foster PTG outcomes among Veterans. This study is unique as it is the first to compare the effects of WP programming with a sample of waitlisted Veterans.