Alcohol use and trauma exposure among male and female veterans before, during, and after military service

Abstract Background The present study examined lifespan and combat-related trauma exposure as predictors of alcohol use among male and female veterans. Posttraumatic stress and depressive symptoms were examined as mediators of the effects of trauma exposure on alcohol use. Methods Data were examined...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Drug and alcohol dependence 2013-12, Vol.133 (2), p.615-624
Main Authors: Kelley, Michelle L, Runnals, Jennifer, Pearson, Matthew R, Miller, Marinell, Fairbank, John A, Brancu, Mira
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Alcohol consumption
Alcohol misuse
Alcoholism - epidemiology
Alcoholism - psychology
Combat Disorders - epidemiology
Combat Disorders - psychology
Depression
Depression - epidemiology
Depression - psychology
Female
Humans
Iraq War, 2003-2011
Male
Middle Aged
Military service
Models, Psychological
Posttraumatic stress disorder
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Psychiatry
PTSD
Sex Factors
Socioeconomic Factors
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - epidemiology
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology
Surveys and Questionnaires
Symptoms
Trauma
United States - epidemiology
Veterans
Veterans - psychology
Wounds and Injuries - psychology
Young Adult
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Summary:Abstract Background The present study examined lifespan and combat-related trauma exposure as predictors of alcohol use among male and female veterans. Posttraumatic stress and depressive symptoms were examined as mediators of the effects of trauma exposure on alcohol use. Methods Data were examined from 1825 (1450 male, 375 female) veterans and active duty service members who took part in a multi-site research study conducted through the Department of Veterans Affairs Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (VISN 6 MIRECC). Results For both men and women, depressive symptoms significantly mediated the effects of non-combat trauma exposure experienced before, during and after the military, as well as combat-exposure, on alcohol use. With posttraumatic stress symptoms, the models for men and women differed. For men, the effects of non-combat trauma exposure during and after military service, and combat exposure, on alcohol use were mediated by PTSD symptoms; however, for women, PTSD symptoms did not mediate these relationships. Conclusion Findings are discussed in the context of potential gender differences in response to trauma such as use of alcohol to cope with traumatic events.
ISSN:0376-8716
1879-0046
DOI:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2013.08.002