Publication year
2011
Citation Title
Post traumatic stress disorder and health risk behaviors among Afghanistan & Iraq veterans attending college.
Journal Name
American Journal of Health Behavior
Journal Volume
35
Issue Number
4
Page Numbers
387-392
DOI
10.5993/ajhb.35.4.1
Summary
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans attending 15 post-secondary institutions in Minnesota completed an online anonymous survey which examined relationships between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and health risk behaviors. PTSD diagnosis was significantly related to reporting involvement in a physical fight in the past year, and somewhat associated with high-risk drinking.
Key Findings
Past year PTSD diagnoses increased the risk of being involved in a physical fight (3 x greater odds) and marginally increased the odds of high-risk drinking (1.32 times more likely).
Sixteen percent of Veterans reported having a PTSD diagnosis at any time in their lives, and 8% reported a PTSD diagnosis in the previous year.
No additional associations between PTSD and other health behaviors examined were significant.
Implications for Program Leaders
Develop curricula for Service members about the potential for risky health behaviors and teach healthy ways of managing stress
Host classes that educate military families about signs and symptoms of PTSD and how to seek treatment
Offer workshops during reintegration to help families and Service members adjust to the Service member’s return, especially when the deployment has included combat exposure
Implications for Policy Makers
Recommend that programs incorporate screening for risky health behaviors among Service members who screen positive for PTSD
Recommend partnerships among military-based and community-based programs to help military families feel more comfortable accessing health-related resources and services that are not on installations
Encourage the development and continuation of programs that can promote resilience in Service members, their partners and children
Methods
All U.S. Military Veterans attending 15 different public and private, 2- and 4-years colleges in Minnesota were invited to complete an anonymous, web-based survey.
Forty-three percent of the 1,901 student Veterans invited to participate in the study completed the questionnaire. Of those, 49% reported having served in Iraq and/or Afghanistan.
The survey consisted of questions about health behaviors (tobacco and alcohol use), and participants completed a measure of PTSD.
Statistical analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between self-reported, past year PTSD diagnosis and health risk behaviors.
Participants
Four hundred and six OEF/OIF Veterans (78% male) completed the survey.
Eighty-nine percent were White, and slightly over half were older than 25 years old.
No information on military branch or other demographic variables was presented.
Limitations
All variables were self-report, and reporting may be subject to social desirability bias.
The sample was limited to one state, and results may only generalize to OIF/OEF Veterans attending a Minnesota post-secondary institution.
In light of the 43% response rate, no analyses were conducted to estimate how responders and non-responders differed.
Avenues for Future Research
Assess the relationship between PTSD and health risk behaviors in OEF/OIF Veterans over time
Gather data on pre-military health behaviors and personality factors that could impact the relationship between PTSD and health risk behaviors
Collect data from military families about Service members' health behaviors and examine potential impacts of these behaviors on family relationships
Focus
Multiple Branches
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Branch
Military Component
Abstract
Objective : To determine if post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with health risk behaviors among Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) veterans attending college. Method: Using 2008 Boynton College Student Health Survey data, we tested associations between self-reported PTSD diagnosis and self-reported risk behaviors (n=406). Results: We found PTSD diagnosis to be significantly associated with reporting involvement in a physical fight in the past year (ARR = 3.1; 95% CI: 2.2, 4.4) and marginally associated with highrisk drinking (ARR = 1.3; 95% CI: 1.1, 1.6). However, no association was seen between PTSD and the tobacco use and other safety behaviors that we examined. Conclusion: PTSD is likely a factor that contributes to the relationship between military service and certain health risk behaviors.
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