Hope and despair: Life outlook as a predictor of loneliness among Veterans

Abstract: Optimism and pessimism are psychological constructs that reflect individuals’ generalized expectations for future outcomes, often manifesting as positive or negative anticipations of outcomes across diverse life scenarios. The study of optimism and pessimism among veterans is particularly pressing due to the distinctive challenges and experiences they face both during and after military service. Using a sample of veterans in the United States ( n=1,495), this study examined predictors of loneliness among veterans, focusing on the role of life outlook (optimism versus pessimism) on their post-military well-being. Overall, results from multiple regression analyses showed that respondents who displayed higher levels of optimism exhibited lower levels of loneliness ( B=−0.017, p<0.001), whereas higher levels of pessimism were associated with higher levels of loneliness ( B=0.021, p<0.001). Furthermore, respondents who placed a high value on serving others and experienced higher levels of guilt reported higher levels of loneliness. Additionally, respondents’ levels of pessimism were linked to how their guilt levels influenced their levels of loneliness, underscoring the complexity of these relationships in shaping loneliness. In the realm of mental health, respondents who reported negative emotions, substance misuse, and suicidal thoughts experienced higher levels of loneliness than those who did not, but these effect sizes were attenuated when accounting for their levels of optimism and pessimism, suggesting that optimism and pessimism cannot be understood as a simple construct along a single continuum. Furthermore, respondents’ levels of satisfaction with their living conditions were negatively linked to their levels of loneliness. When their sociodemographics were considered, Black, Hispanic, and married respondents were less lonely than their White and unmarried counterparts, respectively. Understanding the risk and protective factors shaping veterans’ health ecologies is critical to informing effective health promotion initiatives and improving practice outcomes.

Read the full article
Report a problem with this article

Related articles

  • More for Researchers

    The impact of exposure to morally injurious events on posttraumatic stress symptoms among Israeli combat Veterans: a longitudinal moderated mediation model of moral injury outcomes and dispositional forgiveness

    Abstract: Background: Exposure to potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs) during military service can lead to moral injury (MI) outcomes and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). This longitudinal study examined the relationships between PMIE exposure, MI outcomes, and PTSS among Israeli combat veterans, and the potential protective role of dispositional forgiveness in these associations. Method: Participants were 169 Israeli combat veterans who participated in a six-year longitudinal study with four measurement points (T1: 12 months before enlistment, T2: Six months following enlistment- pre-deployment, T3: 18 months following enlistment- post-deployment, and T4: 28 months following discharge). Participants’ characteristics were assessed via semi-structured interviews (T1) and validated self-report measures (T2-T4) between 2019-2024. Results: Approximately 36% of participants reported exposure to PMIEs during service, with 13% exceeding the clinical threshold for probable PTSD at T4. PMIE-Betrayal at T3 was positively associated with MI outcomes of shame and trust violation at T4. The indirect effect of PMIEs on PTSS through MI outcome-Shame depended on forgiveness levels. Among veterans with low forgiveness, higher exposure to PMIE-Betrayal was associated with increased MI shame, which was linked to more severe PTSS. Conversely, for those with high forgiveness, exposure to PMIE-Self and Other was associated with decreased MI shame and subsequently reduced PTSS. Conclusion: Dispositional forgiveness moderates the relationship between PMIE exposure and MI outcomes, particularly shame, which mediates the development of PTSS. These findings highlight forgiveness as a potential target for intervention in treating moral injury and preventing PTSS among combat veterans.

    Mental Health Peer reviewed