Effects of Perceived Public Regard on the Well-Being of Military Veterans
Abstract: Many military veterans face considerable challenges reintegrating into civilian life. Evidence suggests the general public holds conflicting attitudes toward veterans. This study examines how perceived public attitudes play a role in veterans’ mental health and well-being. Drawing from and extending interactionist theories of self-concept, stigma, and mental health recovery, we develop and estimate models for the relationships between internalized public attitudes toward veterans (perceived public regard), military identity– related self-worth (private regard), and well-being (depression, self-efficacy, and life satisfaction). Using survey data from the Chicagoland Veterans Study, we found that perceived public regard is negatively related to depression and positively related to self-efficacy and life satisfaction. The relationship between public regard and self-efficacy is fully mediated by private regard, and a significant part of the relationship between perceived public regard and both depression and life satisfaction is mediated by private regard. The study suggests avenues for extending theory and research related to military identity and public understanding of veterans as well as other groups where there may be conflicting public sentiment toward them.
Abstract: Background: Individuals with pre-existing heavy alcohol use, prior traumatic exposures, and psychiatric disorders were considered an at-risk group for increased alcohol use and problems in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective: This study recruited from a multi-centre longitudinal cohort study of US military service members/veterans with combat exposure to examine the trajectories of alcohol use and problems in the context of a prolonged stressor. Methods: Individuals who endorsed heavy drinking and completed a measure of PTSD symptoms prior to the pandemic were invited to participate in a longitudinal survey study at three time points, three months apart, during the second year of the pandemic. Participants (N=44) completed surveys assessing alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems (via the AUDIT), PTSD symptoms (via the PCL-5), and infection mitigation behaviours (via a COVID-19 specific survey). Random intercept models were fitted to the longitudinal data for each of these outcomes, covarying for demographics, pandemic quarantine/physical distancing experience, pre-pandemic baseline alcohol consumption and PTSD symptoms, and time-varying alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems as well as PTSD symptoms. Results: We did not find an increase in alcohol consumption or problems over time. However, pre-pandemic alcohol consumption predicted alcohol consumption over time (B=0.52, SE=0.11, p