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Does a person's race or ethnicity influence their experience of trauma or PTSD?
Some studies with Veterans suggest that certain race/ethnic subgroups have a higher rate of PTSD than White Veterans.
This may be related to several factors:
- Non-White Servicemembers tend to have greater exposure to combat and other war zone stressors.
- PTSD may be more likely after race-related warzone stressors, such as being able to identify with the enemy or being thought of as resembling the enemy.
- Lower socioeconomic status and personal experiences of racial prejudice or discrimination are risk factors for PTSD.
- A person's ethnicity or culture can affect how they interpret and react to severe stressors.
Ethnocultural norms may also impact how willing an individual is to report a trauma or seek mental health treatment. Individuals from diverse racial or ethnic backgrounds need to know that evidence-based psychotherapies for PTSD can work for them.
Páginas en Español: Our Web Pages in Spanish
Aquí encontrará enlaces hacia hojas de información que le ayudarán a comprender de qué manera un trauma o eventos potencialmente mortales afectan a individuos y familias.
Resources for Military Families
Watch a video series on the ethnocultural aspects of PTSD for specific groups of Veterans and their families.
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