Examining the Relationship of Posttraumatic Stress and Fibromyalgia among Women Veterans: Long Term Impact Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Military Sexual Trauma, and Fibromyalgia Have on Quality of Life

The purpose of this study is to examine the possible relationship of PTSD and Fibromyalgia, specifically among women veterans. Two research questions were proposed to investigate the relationship of PTSD, MST and Fibromyalgia and its long-term impact on participant's quality of life. H1) participants with PTSD symptoms would also have elevated fibromyalgia symptoms and H2) participants who endorsed PTSD, MST and Fibromyalgia will have lower quality of life than participants who endorse no history of MST. Fifty women veterans participated in the study and administered the QOLS, MSTQ, TSI-II and FIQR. With regard to H1) results indicated there is a relationship between PTSD and fibromyalgia. However, contrary to the H2, there was no statistical significance in QOLS for women that self-endorsed MST. Surprisingly, there was an inverse relationship for those women veteran with no MST. The way a person's handles trauma and pain relies on how the person is equipped to emotional stress. By addressing a person's emotional stress and helping them explore coping skills with regard to their trauma, it can reduce the individuals' emotional reaction to avoid discussing military related trauma and fear of being stigmatized as a result of their perceptive about military culture.