Aging women Veterans' health and well-being: Social and developmental perspectives

Abstract: Women have played critical roles in military and civilian capacities within warzones throughout history, yet their contributions and experiences often remain underexplored. Despite achieving regular status in the U.S. military in 1948 and serving in various roles, including deployment to Vietnam and post-9/11 combat support, research on the long-term health outcomes of women Veterans is relatively new. This special issue examines the unique health and psychosocial challenges faced by aging women Veterans, highlighting disparities in healthcare access, social support, and health behaviors. Studies reveal that women Veterans experience higher levels of social isolation, loneliness, and unmet healthcare needs compared to men Veterans and civilian women, with these factors contributing to adverse mental and physical health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease and depression. The findings emphasize the need for tailored interventions addressing malleable health behaviors such as physical activity, insomnia, and unhealthy alcohol use. Additionally, the issue explores the long-term implications of military service, focusing on biopsychosocial determinants of health across the lifespan. This collection underscores the importance of ongoing research to address gaps in understanding the evolving needs of women Veterans, with attention to generational and cohort differences to inform interventions and healthcare policies.

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