The impact of military service on the mental health of older UK veterans: A qualitative study

Abstract

Background There may be ongoing psychological problems associated with military service later in life; yet as the elderly in the general population also suffer from mental health problems, whether such issues can be attributed to military service or are a feature of ageing remains unclear. This study aimed to explore veteran and nonveteran perceptions of the impact of their occupation on their psychological well‐being later in life. Methods Twenty‐five veterans (≥65 y); 25 nonveterans (≥65 y); 10 veterans with diagnoses of mental health issues (≥65 y); and a close companion of all participants (≥18 y, spouse, child, and close friend) were recruited. Using a qualitative approach, participants completed semistructured qualitative interviews with measures of psychological adjustment used to describe the sample. Results Veterans were found to experience higher levels of workplace stress and trauma exposure compared with nonveterans. When such challenges were positively appraised, veterans described increased confidence and resilience. Social support in response to occupational stress was central to veteran and nonveteran well‐being, especially for those with mental health problems. Nonetheless, providing support was challenging for close companions, with many feeling overwhelmed and requiring additional guidance from the veteran's clinical care team. Conclusions The findings delineate the impact of occupation on the well‐being of older veterans and nonveterans. The results illustrated the psychological support needs and formal guidance desired by veterans, nonveterans, and their families, which could ultimately improve coping of both the individual and family.

Military Service and Health Outcomes of the Elderly in China

“…In addition, the wealth of information in the CHARLS data facilitates us to elucidate possible mechanisms of the positive health effect of military service in the elderly. The mechanism analysis enriched previous related studies (e.g., Landes et al, 2017;McKinney et al, 1997;Williamson et al, 2019). Moreover, the results support the finding that military service promoted human capital (e.g., Eynde, 2015;Hou et al, 2020;Lindqvist & Vestman, 2011;MacLean, 2017), while we found that some social security measures were ineffective in improving the health status of older veterans.…”

“…Risk events directly related to soldiers’ health include training accidents, overtraining injuries, public security maintenance, and major emergency events such as infectious diseases and natural disasters (Chase et al, 2015; Elder et al, 2009; McKinney et al, 1997; Wilmoth et al, 2010; Zhao & Guo, 2022). Especially in nonpeaceful times, soldiers would face significant risks disability, chronic illness, and mental illness (Bedard & Deschênes, 2006; Chase et al, 2015; Davies et al, 2015; Dobkin & Shabani, 2009; Williamson et al, 2019), and may even give their lives. Also, some studies provided evidence of higher mortality rates among veterans who have served in combat (Johnston et al, 2016; Landes et al, 2017; Liu et al, 2005).…”