%0 Journal Article %J Journal of Aging and Health %D 2021 %T The Impact of Military Service Exposures and Psychological Resilience on the Mental Health Trajectories of Older Male Veterans. %A Urena, Stephanie %A Miles G Taylor %A Dawn C Carr %K latent growth curves %K life course %X

We examine the impact of exposure to the dead, dying, and wounded (DDW) during military service on the later-life depressive symptom trajectories of male United States veterans, using psychological resilience as an internal resource that potentially moderates negative consequences. The Health and Retirement Study (2006-2014) and linked Veteran Mail Survey were used to estimate latent growth curve models of depressive symptom trajectories, beginning at respondents' first report of resilience. Veterans with higher levels of resilience do not have increased depressive symptoms in later life, despite previous exposure to DDW. Those with lower levels of resilience and previous exposure to DDW experience poorer mental health in later life. Psychological resilience is important for later-life mental health, particularly for veterans who endured potentially traumatic experiences. We discuss the importance acknowledging the role individual resources play in shaping adaptation to adverse life events and implications for mental health service needs.

%B Journal of Aging and Health %V 33 %P 237-248 %G eng %N 3-4 %R 10.1177/0898264320975231 %0 Journal Article %J Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences & Social Sciences %D 2018 %T The impacts of service related exposures on trajectories of mental health among aging veterans. %A Urena, Stephanie %A Miles G Taylor %A Ben Lennox Kail %K Depressive symptoms %K Health Trajectories %K Veterans %X Objectives: Drawing on life-course perspective and cumulative advantage theory, we examined whether service related exposures (SREs)-combat and exposure to death-have lasting impacts on depressive symptom and psychiatric problem trajectories of aging veterans. Methods: The Health and Retirement Study and linked 2013 Veterans Mail Survey were used to examine SREs and mental health among older veterans between 2002 and 2012 (N = 1,662). Latent growth curves were used to measure how individuals vary from average mental health trajectories based on SREs and other important covariates. Results: Exposure to death had a significant and lasting effect on depressive symptoms for veterans in late life but was reduced to nonsignificance when physical health trajectories were included. Combat and exposure to death had independent and robust impacts on psychiatric problems, which were robust in final models. Discussion: SREs presented varied and significant impacts, suggesting that combat does not work alone in driving poor mental health trajectories, and that exposure to death is a more robust risk marker for later outcomes. %B Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences & Social Sciences %V 73 %P e131-e142 %G eng %N 8 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28158777?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1093/geronb/gbw149