TABLE 2—
Gender Differences in Mental and Physical Health Status, Alcohol and Drug Use: United States, 2008–2009
| Variables | Men (n = 253), Mean (SD) | Women (n = 343), Mean (SD) | t | P |
| Mental/physical health | ||||
| PTSS (PCL-M)a | 31.17 (14.04) | 29.97 (13.54) | 1.04 | ≤ .297 |
| Depression/functioning (BASIS-24)b | 0.95 (0.80) | 0.95 (0.85) | 0.01 | ≤ .989 |
| Interpersonal relations (BASIS-24)b | 1.18 (0.78) | 1.11 (0.79) | 1.08 | ≤ .282 |
| Emotional lability (BASIS-24)b | 1.51 (0.97) | 1.60 (1.00) | −1.09 | ≤ .275 |
| Psychotic symptoms (BASIS-24)b | 0.57 (0.82) | 0.45 (0.69) | 1.89 | ≤ .06 |
| BASIS-24 overall scoreb | 1.03 (0.68) | 1.00 (0.69) | 0.55 | ≤ .582 |
| MCS (VR-12 mental health)c | 40.55 (7.78) | 40.67 (9.11) | −0.16 | ≤ .87 |
| PCS (VR-12 physical health)c | 49.50 (9.64) | 49.57 (9.55) | −0.08 | ≤ .937 |
| Alcohol/drug use | ||||
| Alcohol Use (AUDIT-C)d | 4.06 (2.86) | 2.54 (2.27) | 6.99 | ≤ .001 |
| Substance abuse (BASIS-24)b | 0.47 (0.70) | 0.24 (0.42) | 4.74 | ≤ .001 |
| Drug Use (DAST)e | 0.42 (0.82) | 0.30 (0.63) | 2.01 | ≤ .045 |
Note. AUDIT-C = Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test; BASIS-24 = Behavior and Symptom Identification Scale; DAST = Drug Abuse Screening Test; MCS = Mental Component Score; PCL-M = PTSD Checklist Military Version; PCS = Physical Component Score; PTSD = posttraumatic stress disorder; PTSS = posttraumatic stress symptoms; VR-12 = Veterans Rand-12.
PCL-M scores range from 1 to 68; higher scores indicate greater symptom severity.
BASIS-24 Scores range from 0–4; higher scores indicate greater symptom or problem severity or frequency.
MCS and PCS mean (SD) = 50 (10). Their ranges are unbounded. Higher scores indicate better mental health.
AUDIT-C scores range from 0–12; higher scores indicate greater risk of alcohol abuse.
DAST-10 scores range from 0–10; higher scores indicate greater risk of drug abuse.