COVID-19 and the Mental Health of Canadian Armed Forces Veterans: A Cross-Sectional Survey
| Autor: | Julie Hallet, Christina R Rindlisbacher, Alyson L. Mahar, Shailee Siddhpuria, Megan Edgelow, Paula A. Rochon, Heidi Cramm |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2021 |
| Předmět: |
Gerontology
medicine.medical_specialty Canada Cross-sectional study Beck Anxiety Inventory Population 03 medical and health sciences 0302 clinical medicine Health care medicine Humans education Pandemics health care economics and organizations Aged education.field_of_study 030214 geriatrics business.industry Public health Brief Report Public Health Environmental and Occupational Health COVID-19 Loneliness General Medicine Mental health humanities Cross-Sectional Studies Mental Health Anxiety medicine.symptom business AcademicSubjects/MED00010 030217 neurology & neurosurgery |
| Zdroj: | Military Medicine |
| ISSN: | 1930-613X |
| Popis: | Background There are no data on the impact of COVID-19 and associated public health measures, including sheltering at home, travel restrictions, and changes in health care provision, on the mental health of older veterans. This information is necessary for government and philanthropic agencies to tailor mental health supports, services, and resources for veterans in the peri- and post-pandemic periods. The objective of this study was to compare mental health symptoms between Canadian Armed Forces (CAFs) veterans and the general Canadian older adult population in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods This was a secondary analysis of a cross-sectional study of older adults in the national Canadian COVID-19 Coping Study. Individuals aged 55 years and older were eligible. A convenience sample of older adults was recruited through a web-based survey administered between May 01, 2020 and June 30, 2020. Canadian Armed Force military service history status (yes/no) was ascertained. The eight-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, the five-item Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the three-item Loneliness Scale were used to measure mental health symptoms. Multivariable logistic regression compared the odds of screening positive for depression, anxiety, and loneliness between veterans and non-veterans. Results Of 1,541 respondents who answered the final question (87% survey completeness rate), 210 were veterans. Forty percent of veterans met criteria for at least one of the mental health diagnoses compared to 46% of non-veterans (P = .12). The odds of reporting elevated symptoms of depression, anxiety, and loneliness were similar for veteran and non-veteran respondents after adjusting for confounders. Conclusion Veterans’ report of mental health symptoms was similar to the general population Spring 2020 of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although veterans’ military training may better prepare them to adapt in the face of a pandemic, additional research is needed to understand the longitudinal impacts on physical and mental health. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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