The mental health impact of COVID‐19–related stressors among treatment‐seeking trauma‐exposed veterans.

Trauma‐exposed veterans receiving mental health care may have an elevated risk of experiencing COVID‐19–related difficulties. Using data from several ongoing clinical trials (N = 458), this study examined exposure to COVID‐19–related stressors and their associations with key sociodemographic factors and mental health outcomes. The results showed that exposure to COVID‐19–related stressors was common, higher among veterans who were racial/ethnic minorities d = 0.32, and associated with elevated posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), r =.288, and depressive symptom severity, r =.246. Women veterans experienced more difficulty accessing social support, d = 0.31, and higher levels of COVID‐19–related distress, d = 0.31, than men. Qualitative data were consistent with survey findings and highlighted the broader societal context in veterans' experience of COVID‐19–related distress. These findings may inform future research on the impact of the pandemic on veterans, particularly those who are women and members of minoritized racial/ethnic groups, as well as mental health treatment planning for this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]