Subtypes of Mental Health Stigma and Barriers to Care Among National Guard Personnel: Results of a Latent Class Analysis

• Published date: 01 July 2020
• Date: 01 July 2020
• Author: Craig J. Bryan,David Wood,Michael Applegarth,AnnaBelle O. Bryan
• DOI: 10.1177/0095327X19842220
• Subject Matter: Articles

Article

Subtypes of Mental Health

Stigma and Barriers to

Care Among National

Guard Personnel: Results

of a Latent Class Analysis

Craig J. Bryan

1,2

, David Wood

3

, Michael Applegarth

3

and AnnaBelle O. Bryan

1

Abstract

U.S. National Guard (NG) military personnel experience many barriers to care such

as limited access to health-care services and geographic separation from service

providers. Although stigma and barriers to mental health care have been examined

in the military, little is known about how different facets of stigma and barriers to

care might impact different military subgroups. In a sample of 965 NG personnel,

latent class analysis was used to identify distinct subgroups of stigma and barriers to

care. Four groups were identified: no stigma or barriers (31%), mild stigma and

barriers (30%), high stigma and career concerns (20%), and moderate stigma and

barriers (20%). Classes significantly differed with respect to several demographic

characteristics, rates of mental health conditions, and rates of previous suicidal

thoughts and behaviors. Results suggest that different subgroups of NG personnel

vary with respect to levels of perceived stigma, barriers to care, and mental health

needs.

1

National Center for Veterans Studies, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

2

The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

3

Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA

Corresponding Author:

Craig J. Bryan, National Center for Veterans Studies, 260 S. Central Campus Dr., Suite 3525, Salt Lake

City, UT 84112, USA.

Email: craig.bryan@utah.edu

Armed Forces & Society

2020, Vol. 46(3) 424-437

ªThe Author(s) 2019

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DOI: 10.1177/0095327X19842220

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