Abstract

Background: Anxiety and depression may hamper a smooth transition from military to civilian life and may be important predictors of longer-term health and functioning.

However, it is as yet unclear to what extent they are determined by childhood factors in a recently transitioned population.

Methods: We utilised logistic regression and Generalised Structural Equation Modelling to analyse associations of ICD-10 past-year anxiety and depression with childhood trauma and disorder in a recently transitioned population using detailed interview data from the ADF (Australian Defence Force) Transition and Wellbeing Research Programme.

Results: Past-year anxiety (including PTSD) was prevalent (36.4%, 95% CI, 31.9-41.1) and associated with childhood anxiety (but not other types of childhood disorder), childhood interpersonal trauma (but not other childhood trauma) and adult-onset trauma.

Childhood anxiety had a direct and significant association with past-year anxiety.

The pathway between childhood interpersonal trauma and past-year anxiety was fully mediated by childhood anxiety.

Past-year depression was less prevalent (11.3%, 95% CI, 8.7-14.5) and had no association with childhood disorder or trauma variables.

Limitations: The main predictor variables utilized in this analysis were childhood experiences recalled from adulthood, thus rendering the responses vulnerable to autobiographical bias.

Conclusions: Past-year anxiety was highly prevalent in the period of transition and had strong associations with childhood and military factors, suggesting predictability and potentially preventability.

Citations

Rebecca Syed Sheriff, Miranda Van Hooff, Gin S.Malhid, Blair Grace, Alexander McFarlane. Childhood determinants of past-year anxiety and depression in recently transitioned military personnel. Journal of Affective Disorders Volume 274, 1 September 2020, Pages 59-66.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.04.053

URI: https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/orka/title/childhood-determinants-of-past-year-anxiety-and-depression-in-recently-transitioned-military-personnel/