Individuals who conform strongly to masculine norms tend to have more mental health problems relative to other individuals. However, knowledge about the contribution of conformity to masculine norms to military-related posttraumatic sequelae among women combat veterans is sparse. This study examines the contribution of conformity to masculine norms to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD symptoms among women veterans as well as the mediating roles of coping strategies in these possible associations. A volunteer, community sample of Israeli women combat veterans (n = 885) and non-combat veterans (n = 728) responded to on-line self-report questionnaires in a cross-sectional study. Combat veterans reported higher levels of conformity to masculine norms and PTSD symptoms, but not complex PTSD symptoms and coping strategies, as compared to non-combat veterans. Moreover, among combat and noncombat veterans, conformity to masculine norms was associated with higher levels of PTSD and complex PTSD symptoms, beyond adverse childhood experiences and combat exposure. Importantly, conformity to masculine norms was indirectly associated with higher levels of PTSD and complex PTSD symptoms through maladaptive coping strategies, for both combat and noncombat veterans. Overall, women combat veterans were more likely to endorse masculine norms that are associated with higher levels of PTSD and complex PTSD symptoms. Moreover, maladaptive coping strategies might serve as mechanisms that link conformity to masculine norms to military-related posttraumatic consequences and warrants further investigation.

与其他人相比，强烈遵守男性规范的人往往有更多的心理健康问题。然而，关于女性退伍军人中遵守男性规范对军事相关创伤后后遗症的影响的了解却很少。本研究探讨了女性退伍军人中遵守男性规范对创伤后应激障碍 (PTSD) 和复杂 PTSD 症状的影响，以及应对策略在这些可能的关联中的中介作用。以色列女性退伍军人 ( n = 885) 和非战斗退伍军人 ( n= 728）在一项横断面研究中回答了在线自我报告问卷。与非战斗退伍军人相比，退伍军人对男性规范和创伤后应激障碍症状的遵从程度更高，但对复杂的创伤后应激障碍症状和应对策略的遵从程度不高。此外，在战斗和非战斗退伍军人中，除了不良的童年经历和战斗经历之外，遵守男性规范与更高水平的创伤后应激障碍和复杂的创伤后应激障碍症状有关。重要的是，对于战斗和非战斗退伍军人来说，遵守男性规范与较高水平的创伤后应激障碍和复杂的创伤后应激障碍症状通过适应不良的应对策略间接相关。总体而言，女性退伍军人更有可能认可与较高水平的创伤后应激障碍和复杂的创伤后应激障碍症状相关的男性规范。而且，