Cover Image
QR Code

Combat exposure, emotional and physical role limitations, and substance use among male United States Army Reserve and National Guard soldiers.

Purpose: Combat-exposed soldiers are at an increased risk for health problems that diminish quality of life (QOL) and substance use. We explored the cross-sectional associations between combat exposure and two measures of QOL, and the effect of substance use on those associations.Methods: Data are f...

Full description

Published in:Quality of Life Research Vol. 27; no. 1; pp. 137 - 148
Main Authors: Hoopsick, R. A., Vest, B. M., Homish, D. L., Homish, G. G.
Format: research tables/charts Journal Article
Published: Springer Nature Jan2018
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
fields @attributes:
  recordID: 1
pdfLink:
plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=127379432&site=ehost-live
header:
  @attributes:
    shortDbName: ccm
    uiTerm: 127379432
    longDbName: CINAHL Complete
    uiTag: AN
  controlInfo:
    bkinfo:
    dissinfo:
    jinfo:
      jid:
        09629343
        GPQ
      jtl: Quality of Life Research
      issn: 09629343
      maglogo: N
    pubinfo:
      dt: Jan2018
      vid: 27
      iid: 1
      pid: 237
      pub: Springer Nature
      place: New York, New York
    artinfo:
      ui:
        127379432
        127379432
        143931426
        NLM28921407
        127379432
        10.1007/s11136-017-1706-2
        NLM28921407
        127379432
      ppf: 137
      ppct: 11
      formats:
        fmt:
          – @attributes:
              type: T
          – @attributes:
              type: P
      tig:
        atl: Combat exposure, emotional and physical role limitations, and substance use among male United States Army Reserve and National Guard soldiers.
      aug:
        au:
          Hoopsick, R. A.
          Vest, B. M.
          Homish, D. L.
          Homish, G. G.
        affil: Department of Community Health and Health Behavior, School of Public Health and Health Professions, State University of New York at Buffalo, 3435 Main Street, 335 Kimball Tower, 14214, Buffalo, NY, USA
      sug:
        subj:
          Emotions
          Substance Use Disorders Epidemiology
          Physical Examination Psychosocial Factors
          Military Personnel Psychosocial Factors
          Adult
          Male
          United States
          Cross Sectional Studies
          Risk Factors
          Quality of Life
          Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36)
          Funding Source
          Human
          Questionnaires
          Adult: 19-44 years
          Male
      ab: Purpose: Combat-exposed soldiers are at an increased risk for health problems that diminish quality of life (QOL) and substance use. We explored the cross-sectional associations between combat exposure and two measures of QOL, and the effect of substance use on those associations.Methods: Data are from the baseline wave of Operation: SAFETY, an ongoing survey-based study of United States Army Reserve/National Guard (USAR/NG) soldiers and their partners. Our sample consisted of male USAR/NG soldiers with a history of deployment (N = 248). Limitations in usual activity due to physical and emotional problems were assessed using the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36).Results: Greater combat exposure was independently associated with limitations in usual activity due to physical (regression coefficient = -0.35, 95% CI -0.55 to -0.16, R 2 = 0.09; p < 0.01) and emotional (regression coefficient = -0.32, 95% CI -0.56 to -0.09, R 2 = 0.09; p < 0.01) problems. Combat exposure had a significant interaction with frequent heavy drinking on physical role limitations (regression coefficient = -0.65, 95% CI -1.18 to -0.12, R 2 = 0.12; p < 0.05) and emotional role limitations (regression coefficient = -0.83, 95% CI -1.46 to -0.19, R 2 = 0.12; p < 0.05). Combat exposure also had a significant interaction with lifetime non-medical use of prescription drugs on physical role limitations (regression coefficient = 0.81, 95% CI 0.18-1.45, R 2 = 0.11; p < 0.05).Conclusion: Combat is an unmodifiable risk factor for poor QOL among soldiers; however, frequent heavy drinking and non-medical use of prescription drugs modifies the relationship between combat exposure and QOL. Therefore, substance use is a potential point of intervention to improve QOL among soldiers.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
    refInfo:
    holdings:
      @attributes:
        islocal: N