Publications from around the UK
The references below are taken from a comprehensive literature review undertaken as part of the “We Also Served” report, published in 2021. This page is reviewed and updated on a regular basis.
Physical Health
Research exploring the physical health and wellbeing of women in the military community
Cordell, RF., Wickes, CK. and Casey, A. (2023) ‘Female UK army Service personnel are at greater risk of work-related morbidly on return of postpartum’. BMJ Military Health, 2023;169:46-51. Available at: Female UK Army Service personnel are at greater risk of work-related morbidity on return to duty postpartum | BMJ Military Health (Accessed: 28 February 2023)
Stevelink, SAM., and Fear, NT. (2016) Psychosocial Impact of Visual Impairment and Coping Strategies in Female Ex-Service Personnel. Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps. Available at: https://militaryhealth.bmj.com/content/162/2/129 (Accessed: 28 February 2023).
Unwin, C., Hotopf, M., Hull, L., Ismail, K., David, A., and Wessely, S. (2002) Women in the Persian Gulf: Lack of gender differences in long term health effects of Service in United Kingdom armed forces in the 1991 Persian Gulf War. Military medicine. 2002;167(5):406–13. Available at: milmed-167-5-406.pdf (silverchair.com) (Accessed: 28 February 2023)
Williamson, C., Baumann, J., and Murphy. (2022) Adverse childhood experiences, military adversities, and adult health outcomes among female Veterans in the UK. Journal of Military, Veteran, and Family Health. Available at: https://jmvfh.utpjournals.press/doi/pdf/10.3138/jmvfh-2021-0070 (Accessed: 28 February 2023).
Williamson, C., Baumann, J., and Murphy, D. (2021) ‘The impacts of having a first child during service on military mothers’, BMJ Mil Health. Available at: Military families: the impacts of having a first child during service on military mothers | BMJ Military Health (Accessed: 28 February 2023).
Willman, P. and King, K. (2023) ‘Serving through the perimenopause: Experiences of women in the UK armed forces’ Maturitas. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378512223000038 (Accessed: 28 February 2023).
Wellbeing
Research with a broader wellbeing focus
Baumann, J., Williamson, C. and Murphy D. (2022) ‘Exploring the impact of gender-specific challenges during and after military service on female UK Veterans’, Journal of Military, Veteran, and Family Health, 8(2), pp. 72-81. Available at: https://jmvfh.utpjournals.press/doi/pdf/10.3138/jmvfh-2021-0065?cookieSet=1 (Accessed: 28 February 2023).
Jones G. (2009) ‘Exploring the psychological health and wellbeing experiences of female veterans transitioning from military to civilian environments’, The University of Manchester. Available at: Exploring the psychological health and wellbeing experiences of female veterans transitioning from military to civilian environments — Research Explorer The University of Manchester (Accessed: 28 February 2023).
Mental Health
Research focusing on mental health needs and experiences of women in the military community
Graham, K., Murphy, D., and Hendrikx, L.J. (2022). Exploring Barriers to Mental Health Treatment in the Female Veteran Population: A Qualitative Study. Journal of Veterans Studies, 8(3), 151–164, Available at: http://doi.org/10.21061/jvs.v8i3.323 (Accessed: 28 February 2023).
Jones N, Greenberg N, Phillips A, Simms A, and Wessely S. (2019) ‘Mental Health, Help-Seeking Behaviour and social Support in the UK Armed Forces by Gender’ Psychiatry-Interpersonal and Biological Processes, 2019; 82(3), pp. 256–271. Available at: (19) (PDF) Mental Health, Help-Seeking Behaviour and Social Support in the UK Armed Forces by Gender (researchgate.net) (Accessed: 28 February 2023).
Jones N., Greenberg, N., Philips, A., and Wessely, S. (2019) ‘British military women: combat exposure, deployment, and mental health. Occupational Medicine-Oxford, 2019;69(8–9):549–58. Available at: British military women: combat exposure, deployment and mental health – PubMed (nih.gov) (Accessed: 28 February 2023).
Rona, RJ., Fear, NT., Hull, L., and Wessely S. (2007) ‘Women in novel occupational roles: mental health trends in the UK armed forces’, international journal of epidemiology, 2007;36(2):319–26. Available at: Women in novel occupational roles: mental health trends in the UK Armed Forces | International Journal of Epidemiology | Oxford Academic (oup.com) (Accessed: 28 February 2023).
Woodhead C., Wessely S., Jones N., Fear N.T., and Hatch S.L.(2012) ‘Impact of exposure to combat during deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan on mental health by gender’, Psychological medicine, 2012;42(9):1985–96. Available at: Impact of exposure to combat during deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan on mental health by gender – PubMed (nih.gov) (Accessed: 1 Mar 2023).
Woodhead C. (2012) The mental health and well-being of women in the UK Armed Forces. King’s College London (University of London). Available at: https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/the-mental-health-and-wellbeing-of-women-in-the-uk-armed-forces(6a55860b-3637-4a97-a771-a255902fca5d).html (Accessed: 1 Mar 2023).
Sexual Harassment & Sexual Offending
Research that considers sexual harassment and sexual offending in the Armed Forces and its impact on women in the military community
Andrews S., Watts A., and Morton, K. (2009) Professional Army, Diverse Army: Forging the Link. Available at: 20091101-Watts-Andrews_Inquiry_Redt-U.pdf (parliament.uk) (Accessed: 1 Mar 2023).
Defence Human Capability Science & Technology Centre (2020) Defence Inclusivity Phase 2: The Lived Experience. BAE Systems. Available at: TIN2.101 Defence Inclusivity Phase 2: The Lived Experience Final Report (parliament.uk) (Accessed: 28 Feb 2023).
Defence Select Committee (2021) Protecting those who protect us: Women in the Armed Forces from Recruitment to Civilian Life. House of Commons. Available at: Women in the Armed Forces: From Recruitment to Civilian Life (parliament.uk) (Accessed: 28 Feb 2023).
Harris Interactive (2015) Royal Navy and Royal Marines Sexual Harassment Survey. Available at: Royal Navy and Royal Marines sexual harassment survey 2015 (publishing.service.gov.uk) (Accessed: 28 Feb 2023).
Lanchbury, P., Hawkshaw R., Jarrett N., Bodman S., Parkyn A., Clifford P., and Jubb R.(2021) Sexual Harassment 2021 Report. Ministry of Defence. Available at: Army_Sexual_Harassment_Report_2021.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk) (Accessed: 28 Feb 2023).
Markson, A. (2018) Sexual Harassment Report 2018. Ministry of Defence. Available at: Army sexual harassment report 2018 (publishing.service.gov.uk) (Accessed: 1 Mar 2023).
Ministry of Defence (2019) Report on Inappropriate Behaviours. Crown. Available at: Wigston review (publishing.service.gov.uk) (Accessed: 28 Feb 2023).
Ministry of Defence (2016) Interim Report on the Health Risks to Women in Ground Close Combat Roles. Crown. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/536381/20160706_ADR006101_Report_Women_in_Combat_WEB-FINAL.PDF(Accessed: 28 Feb 2023).
Morgan, L. (2022) Understanding sexual offences in UK military and veteran populations: delineating the offences and setting research priorities BMJ Mil Health 168:146-149. Available at: https://militaryhealth.bmj.com/content/168/2/146 (Accessed: 6 Mar 2023)
Rutherford, S., Schneider, R., and Walmsley, A. (2006) Quantitative & Qualitative Research into Sexual Harassment in The Armed Forces. Schneider~Ross Ltd. Available at: https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20121018171845/http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/538E55EE-9CA4-4177-9A0B-6853A431B283/0/20060522SRReport.pdf (Accessed: 28 Feb 2023).
Employment
Research specifically focusing on the post-service employment of military women.
Parry, E., Battista, V., Williams, M, Robinson, D. and Takala, H. (2019) Female Service Leavers and Employment. Forces in Mind Trust. Available at: https://www.employment-studies.co.uk/system/files/resources/files/20190920%20-%20Female%20Service%20Leavers%20and%20Employment%20FINAL.pdf (Accessed: 28 February 2023).
Jones, N., Jones, M., Greenberg, N., Phillips, A., Simms, A., and Wessely, S., (2020) ‘UK military women: mental health, military service and occupational adjustment’ Occupational Medicine, 2020;70(4):235–42. Available at: https://academic.oup.com/occmed/article-abstract/70/4/235/5734277?redirectedFrom=fulltext (Accessed: 28 February 2023).
General
Unclassified research with a focus on the general experiences of women in the military and as veterans
Dodds CD. and Kieran MD. (2019) ‘Hidden Veterans: A Review of the Literature on Women Veterans in Contemporary Society’, Illness, Crisis, and Loss, 2019;27(4):293–310. Available at: Original_Word_Hidden_Veterans_A_review_of_the_literature_on_women_veterans_in_contemporary_society.pdf (northumbria.ac.uk) (Accessed: 28 February 2023)
Edward P. and Wright T. (2019) No Man’s Land: Research study to explore the experiences & needs of women veterans in the UK, Forward Assist, Available at: https://www.saluteheruk.co.uk/site_files/9131/upload_files/NoMansLand(1).pdf?dl=1 (Accessed: 28 February 2023).
Edwards, P., Wright, T., and Honor, S. (2022) No Man’s Land 2: Research study to explore the experience & needs of women veterans in the UK. Forward Assist. Available at: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5829ccde2e69cf19589499ac/t/637e0bd50e9b0c66b20a4804/1669204950767/No+Mans+Land+2+PDF.pdf (Accessed: 28 February 2023).