Female post-9/11 veterans experienced a sharper decline in overall well-being than their male counterparts during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to research released on Apr. 3 by the Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State.
The study highlights that while all veterans faced difficulties transitioning to civilian life amid the pandemic, women encountered more stress and less satisfaction in professional and social areas. The findings suggest that existing gender inequalities among veterans were made worse by the pandemic.
Researchers analyzed data from two longitudinal studies—the Veterans Metrics Initiative and Veterans Engaging in Transition Studies—tracking service members who served after 9/11 for up to six and a half years after leaving military service. More than 5,200 veterans provided responses before the pandemic, while over 3,100 responded afterward. The surveys measured stress across work, relationships, social connections, and parenting domains.
Results showed that female veterans reported lower work satisfaction both before and after COVID-19 compared to men. Underemployment was higher among women as well, although employment status improved somewhat for both groups over time. Work strain increased for all but rose more sharply among women. Social outcomes were mixed: instrumental support improved slightly for everyone while emotional support declined; however, social satisfaction dropped more steeply among women.
In parenting roles, female veterans reported higher functioning and satisfaction than men at both time points but still saw declines due to intensified pressures during the pandemic. Relationship outcomes also worsened: women's relationship satisfaction fell further than men's over time—a trend linked by researchers to unequal household demands and reduced emotional support from partners.
"This study shows that large-scale disruptions, such as the pandemic, do not affect all veterans in the same way," said Keith Aronson, director of the Clearinghouse and research professor in Penn State's Department of Biobehavioral Health.
The researchers noted that their sample may not fully represent all veteran parents since participants tended to be older than those reflected in Department of Defense data from 2017. They argue that "one-size-fits-all" benefits are insufficient given these varied experiences within veteran populations.
"This research clearly indicates that resilience and strain often exist side-by-side," said Daniel F. Perkins, principal scientist at the Clearinghouse. "The steeper satisfaction and functioning declines we see in female veterans' social and professional lives are a call-to-action." Perkins added that policies should address broader aspects of life including childcare support and equitable employment opportunities.
