Cluster analysis of Canadian Armed Forces Veterans living with chronic pain: Life After Service Studies 2016.

Abstract: Objective: This study explored the heterogeneity of Canadian Armed Forces veterans living with chronic pain to inform service needs planning and research using cluster analysis.Design: We used a national cross-sectional Statistics Canada population survey.Participants: Participants included 2754 Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Regular Force veterans released from service between 1998 and 2015 and surveyed in 2016.Methods: We used cluster analysis of veterans with chronic pain based on pain severity, mental health, and activity limitation characteristics. We compared clusters for sociodemographic, health, and service utilization characteristics.Results: Of 2754 veterans, 1126 (41%) reported chronic pain. Veterans in cluster I (47%) rarely had severe pain (2%) or severe mental health problems (8%), and none had severe activity limitations. Veterans in cluster II (26%) more often than veterans in cluster I but less often than veterans in cluster III endorsed severe pain (27%) and severe mental health problems (22%) and were most likely to report severe activity limitation (91%). Veterans in cluster III (27%) were most likely to report severe pain (36%) and severe mental health problems (96%), and a majority reported severe activity limitations (72%). There was evidence of considerable heterogeneity among individuals in terms of socioeconomic characteristics, pain characteristics, mental and physical health status, activity limitations, social integration, and service utilization indicators.Conclusions: About half of Canadian veterans living with chronic pain infrequently endorse severe pain or serious mental health issues without severe activity limitations. The other half had more complex characteristics. The heterogeneity of CAF veterans with chronic pain emphasizes the need for support systems that can address variability of needs

Read the full article
Report a problem with this article

Related articles

  • More for Researchers

    Examination of the mental health symptoms and stigmatizing attitudes of student servicemembers and Veterans in postsecondary education

    Abstract:Student servicemembers and veterans (SSM/V) face challenges when transitioning from military service into higher education, including mental health concerns and difficulties with academic and social adjustment. This study examined mental health symptoms, adjustment to college, stigma, and help-seeking attitudes among 79 SSM/V enrolled in postsecondary education. Participants completed measures related to depression (PHQ-8), anxiety (GAD-7), posttraumatic stress (PCL-5), adjustment to college (VAC), self-stigma (SSOSH), public stigma (SSRPH), and attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help (ATSPPH-SF). Results indicated that average scores reflected mild levels of depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress. Veterans reported significantly higher levels of depressive and PTSD symptoms compared to active-duty servicemembers. Number of deployments was negatively correlated with adjustment scores. Race and ethnicity were found to be significant predictors of help-seeking attitudes. Although college adjustment was negatively correlated with depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms, the findings did not reach statistical significance, perhaps due to the limited variability in the sample. Most participants reported generally positive attitudes toward mental health services, though both self-stigma and perceived public stigma were present. Service utilization was high overall, with 76% of participants reporting prior mental health service use and 44% who were currently engaged in treatment at time of survey completion. Findings underscore the importance of addressing cultural factors, deployment experiences, and stigma to improve adjustment, retention, and well-being among SSM/V in postsecondary education.

    Mental Health