TY - JOUR
T1 - UK veterans' mental health and well-being before and during the COVID-19 pandemic
T2 - A longitudinal cohort study
AU - Sharp, Marie Louise
AU - Serfioti, Danai
AU - Jones, Margaret
AU - Burdett, Howard
AU - Pernet, David
AU - Hull, Lisa
AU - Murphy, Dominic
AU - Wessely, Simon
AU - Fear, Nicola T.
N1 - Funding Information:
Funding This work was funded by the Office of Veterans’ Affairs, Cabinet Office, UK Government (Contract Ref: CCZZ20A51).
Funding Information:
Contributors M-LS, DS, MJ, HB, DP, LH, DP, DM, SW and NTF were involved in the original concept and design of the study. NTF and SW have overseen the conduct of all aspects of the study. M-LS led the formulation of the questionnaire and associated measures, with substantial contributions from all authors in shaping the final questionnaire. DP led the online survey design, format and flow. DS led the ethics submission with substantial contributions from all authors. MJ, HB and LH led the design of participant materials including the participant invite and information sheet with input from all authors. MJ led the data analysis plan and conducted the data analysis with input from all authors. M-LS and DS led the writing of the research paper, with drafting and revision input from all authors. M-LS, DS, MJ, HB, DP, LH, DP, DM, SW and NTF have all seen and approved the final version of this paper and accept accountability for all aspects of the work. SW and NTF secured the funding from OVA for this work.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 BMJ Publishing Group. All rights reserved.
Copyright:
Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2021/8/27
Y1 - 2021/8/27
N2 - Objective To investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health and well-being of UK ex-service personnel (veterans) before and during the pandemic, and to assess associations of COVID-19 experiences and stressors with mental health, alcohol use and loneliness. Design An additional wave of data was collected from a longitudinal cohort study of the UK Armed Forces. Setting Online survey June-September 2020. Participants Cohort members were included if they had completed a questionnaire at phase 3 of the King's Centre for Military Health Research health and well-being study (2014-2016), had left the Armed Forces after regular service, were living in the UK, had consented to follow-up and provided a valid email address. Invitation emails were sent to N=3547 with a 44% response rate (n=1562). Primary outcome measures Common mental health disorders (CMDs) (measured using the General Health Questionnaire, 12 items - cut-off ≥4), hazardous alcohol use (measured using the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test, 10 items - cut off ≥8) and loneliness (University of California, Los Angeles, Loneliness Scale -3 items-cut-off ≥6). Results Veterans reported a statistically significant decrease in hazardous drinking of 48.5% to 27.6%, while CMD remained stable (non-statistically significant increase of 24.5% to 26.1%). 27.4% of veterans reported feelings of loneliness. The COVID-19 stressors of reporting difficulties with family/social relationships, boredom and difficulties with health were statistically significantly associated with CMD, hazardous drinking and loneliness, even after adjustment for previous mental health/hazardous alcohol use. Conclusions Our study suggests a COVID-19 impact on veterans' mental health, alcohol use and loneliness, particularly for those experiencing difficulties with family relationships. Veterans experienced the pandemic in similar ways to the general population and in some cases may have responded in resilient ways. While stable levels of CMD and reduction in alcohol use are positive, there remains a group of veterans who may need mental health and alcohol treatment services.
AB - Objective To investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health and well-being of UK ex-service personnel (veterans) before and during the pandemic, and to assess associations of COVID-19 experiences and stressors with mental health, alcohol use and loneliness. Design An additional wave of data was collected from a longitudinal cohort study of the UK Armed Forces. Setting Online survey June-September 2020. Participants Cohort members were included if they had completed a questionnaire at phase 3 of the King's Centre for Military Health Research health and well-being study (2014-2016), had left the Armed Forces after regular service, were living in the UK, had consented to follow-up and provided a valid email address. Invitation emails were sent to N=3547 with a 44% response rate (n=1562). Primary outcome measures Common mental health disorders (CMDs) (measured using the General Health Questionnaire, 12 items - cut-off ≥4), hazardous alcohol use (measured using the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test, 10 items - cut off ≥8) and loneliness (University of California, Los Angeles, Loneliness Scale -3 items-cut-off ≥6). Results Veterans reported a statistically significant decrease in hazardous drinking of 48.5% to 27.6%, while CMD remained stable (non-statistically significant increase of 24.5% to 26.1%). 27.4% of veterans reported feelings of loneliness. The COVID-19 stressors of reporting difficulties with family/social relationships, boredom and difficulties with health were statistically significantly associated with CMD, hazardous drinking and loneliness, even after adjustment for previous mental health/hazardous alcohol use. Conclusions Our study suggests a COVID-19 impact on veterans' mental health, alcohol use and loneliness, particularly for those experiencing difficulties with family relationships. Veterans experienced the pandemic in similar ways to the general population and in some cases may have responded in resilient ways. While stable levels of CMD and reduction in alcohol use are positive, there remains a group of veterans who may need mental health and alcohol treatment services.
KW - COVID-19
KW - epidemiology
KW - mental health
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85114351718&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-049815
DO - 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-049815
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85114351718
SN - 2044-6055
VL - 11
JO - BMJ Open
JF - BMJ Open
IS - 8
M1 - e049815
ER -