Anger Among UK Ex-Service Military Personnel During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Charlotte Williamson; Margaret Jones; Laura Palmer; Glen Dighton; Howard Burdett; Marie-Louise Sharp; Nicola Fear

Anger Among UK Ex-Service Military Personnel During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Charlotte Williamson, Margaret Jones, Laura Palmer, Glen Dighton, Howard Burdett, Marie-Louise Sharp, Nicola Fear

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Military service and ex-service personnel commonly experience difficulties with anger. The COVID-19 pandemic had several negative consequences upon social, economic and health factors that influence anger. This study aimed to explore 1) levels of anger in an ex-serving military cohort during the COVID-19 pandemic, 2) self-reported changes in anger compared to pre-pandemic levels, and 3) identify sociodemographic characteristics, military characteristics, COVID-19 experiences and stressors associated with anger. UK ex-service personnel (N=1,499) completed the Dimensions of Anger Reactions 5-item measure within an existing cohort study. Overall, 14.4% reported significant difficulties with anger and 24.8% reported their anger worsened during the pandemic. Anger was associated with factors such as financial difficulties, extra/new caring responsibilities, and COVID-19 bereavement. Endorsing more COVID-19 stressors was associated with higher odds of anger difficulties. This study highlights the impact of the pandemic on ex-service personnel, including a strain on family/social relationships and financial hardship, which affected anger.

Original language	English
Journal	Journal of Nervous & Mental Disease
Publication status	Accepted/In press - 11 May 2023

Cite this

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title = "Anger Among UK Ex-Service Military Personnel During the COVID-19 Pandemic",

abstract = "Military service and ex-service personnel commonly experience difficulties with anger. The COVID-19 pandemic had several negative consequences upon social, economic and health factors that influence anger. This study aimed to explore 1) levels of anger in an ex-serving military cohort during the COVID-19 pandemic, 2) self-reported changes in anger compared to pre-pandemic levels, and 3) identify sociodemographic characteristics, military characteristics, COVID-19 experiences and stressors associated with anger. UK ex-service personnel (N=1,499) completed the Dimensions of Anger Reactions 5-item measure within an existing cohort study. Overall, 14.4% reported significant difficulties with anger and 24.8% reported their anger worsened during the pandemic. Anger was associated with factors such as financial difficulties, extra/new caring responsibilities, and COVID-19 bereavement. Endorsing more COVID-19 stressors was associated with higher odds of anger difficulties. This study highlights the impact of the pandemic on ex-service personnel, including a strain on family/social relationships and financial hardship, which affected anger.",

author = "Charlotte Williamson and Margaret Jones and Laura Palmer and Glen Dighton and Howard Burdett and Marie-Louise Sharp and Nicola Fear",

year = "2023",

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language = "English",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Anger Among UK Ex-Service Military Personnel During the COVID-19 Pandemic

AU - Williamson, Charlotte

AU - Jones, Margaret

AU - Palmer, Laura

AU - Dighton, Glen

AU - Burdett, Howard

AU - Sharp, Marie-Louise

AU - Fear, Nicola

PY - 2023/5/11

Y1 - 2023/5/11

N2 - Military service and ex-service personnel commonly experience difficulties with anger. The COVID-19 pandemic had several negative consequences upon social, economic and health factors that influence anger. This study aimed to explore 1) levels of anger in an ex-serving military cohort during the COVID-19 pandemic, 2) self-reported changes in anger compared to pre-pandemic levels, and 3) identify sociodemographic characteristics, military characteristics, COVID-19 experiences and stressors associated with anger. UK ex-service personnel (N=1,499) completed the Dimensions of Anger Reactions 5-item measure within an existing cohort study. Overall, 14.4% reported significant difficulties with anger and 24.8% reported their anger worsened during the pandemic. Anger was associated with factors such as financial difficulties, extra/new caring responsibilities, and COVID-19 bereavement. Endorsing more COVID-19 stressors was associated with higher odds of anger difficulties. This study highlights the impact of the pandemic on ex-service personnel, including a strain on family/social relationships and financial hardship, which affected anger.

AB - Military service and ex-service personnel commonly experience difficulties with anger. The COVID-19 pandemic had several negative consequences upon social, economic and health factors that influence anger. This study aimed to explore 1) levels of anger in an ex-serving military cohort during the COVID-19 pandemic, 2) self-reported changes in anger compared to pre-pandemic levels, and 3) identify sociodemographic characteristics, military characteristics, COVID-19 experiences and stressors associated with anger. UK ex-service personnel (N=1,499) completed the Dimensions of Anger Reactions 5-item measure within an existing cohort study. Overall, 14.4% reported significant difficulties with anger and 24.8% reported their anger worsened during the pandemic. Anger was associated with factors such as financial difficulties, extra/new caring responsibilities, and COVID-19 bereavement. Endorsing more COVID-19 stressors was associated with higher odds of anger difficulties. This study highlights the impact of the pandemic on ex-service personnel, including a strain on family/social relationships and financial hardship, which affected anger.

M3 - Article

JO - Journal of Nervous & Mental Disease

JF - Journal of Nervous & Mental Disease

ER -

Anger Among UK Ex-Service Military Personnel During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

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