COMBAT-RELATED TRAUMA RE-ENGAGEMENT IN AGING VIETNAM-ERA VETERANS: CORRELATES OF POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE OUTCOMES. (11th November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brady, C; Pless Kaiser, A; Davison, E; Spiro, A
• Is Part Of: Innovation in aging. Volume 2(2018)Supplement 1
• Page Start: 384
• Page End: 384
• Publication Date: 2018-11-11
• Subjects: Aging -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Periodicals; 612.67
• DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igy023.1429
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2399-5300

Abstract

Abstract: We examined cognitive and other psychological factors related to physical and mental health-related quality of life, depression, anxiety, PTSD, and alcohol use via regression analyses in a cross-sectional sample of 152 Vietnam-era combat veterans aged 55 and older (Mage = 68.1; Meduc = 15.8). Better mental and physical quality of life was related to better cognition, desirable effects of past military service, and fewer present retirement concerns. Higher levels of PTSD, depression and anxiety symptoms, and problematic alcohol use were related to younger age, worse cognition, undesirable effects of past military service, and more retirement concerns. We discuss the findings in the context of our Later-Adulthood Trauma Reengagement (LATR) model, which seeks to explain how intrapersonal, lifestyle, social and environmental factors lead to positive and/or negative outcomes from past trauma exposures in older adults, and the implications of these findings for clinical work with Vietnam-era Veterans.