ArticlePsychological medicine2023
Mental health across the early years in the military.
Article in Psychological medicine, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 20 citations in OpenAlex.
- Posttraumatic stress disorder in serving Australian Defence Force members 2002-2023: a systematic evidence review.European journal of psychotraumatology · 2025Pooled it
- Emotion Regulation and Coping in Active Military Personnel: A Systematic Review.Stress and health : journal of the International Society for the Investigation of Stress · 2025Pooled it
- Risk of First Adjustment Disorder in U.S. Army Soldiers.Military medicine · 2026Article
- Predicting externalizing symptom trajectories in U.S. National Guard recruits: The role of adverse childhood experiences.Journal of traumatic stress · 2026Article
- Is passive smoking associated with acute stress response? An observational real-world study.Frontiers in public health · 2026Observational
- Integrating job design and cognitive-emotional processes using latent network analysis: associations with performance and emotional well-being in navy personnel.BMC psychology · 2025Article
- Trauma, resilience and significant relationships: Sex differences in protective factors for military mental health.The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry · 2025Article
- The association of multi-system conditions on mental health trajectories during naval deployment.Military psychology : the official journal of the Division of Military Psychology, American Psychological Association · 2025Article
- A Scoping Review of Military Culture, Military Identity, and Mental Health Outcomes in Military Personnel.Military medicine · 2024Article
- Three-Item Dimensions of Anger Reactions Scale.JAMA network open · 2024Article
- Social network size and personality traits independently and prospectively predict distress disorders and suicidal behavior in U.S. Army soldiers.Psychological medicine · 2023Article
- Time in Service and Resilience in Active Military Personnel during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study in Northern Peru.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
14 authors at 6 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe mental health impact of the initial years of military service is an under-researched area. This study is the first to explore mental health trajectories and associated predictors in military members across the first 3-4 years of their career to provide evidence to inform early interventions.
methodsThis prospective cohort study surveyed Australian Defence personnel (
resultsThree clear trajectories emerged for psychological distress: resilient (84.0%), worsening (9.6%) and recovery (6.5%). Four trajectories emerged for post-traumatic stress, including resilient (82.5%), recovery (9.6%), worsening (5.8%) and chronic subthreshold (2.3%) trajectories. Across both outcomes, prior trauma exposure alongside modifiable factors, such as maladaptive coping styles, and increased anger and sleep difficulties were associated with the worsening and chronic subthreshold trajectories, whilst members in the resilient trajectories were more likely to be male, report increased social support from family/friends and Australian Defence Force (ADF) sources, and use adaptive coping styles.
conclusionsThe emergence of symptoms of mental health problems occurs early in the military lifecycle for a significant proportion of individuals. Modifiable factors associated with wellbeing identified in this study are ideal targets for intervention, and should be embedded and consolidated throughout the military career.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.