LAUSR

The high volume of deployments related to military operations in southwest Asia over the past two decades have generated interest in research on factors that may influence mental health among service members with a history of deployment. Identifying key risk and protective factors for mental health disorders in military populations is an integral step towards developing or improving policies and programs aimed at enhancing resilience to deployment stress. In line with the growing consideration of research on social determinants of health, the objectives of the present study were to i) examine the characteristics of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members’ economic and social environment and ii) examine the associations between these characteristics and mental health. Participants included 6,040 CAF members who were deployed at least once in support of a mission and completed the 2013 Canadian Forces Mental Health Survey (CFMHS). A range of economic and social environmental characteristics were examined, including education, income, marital status, household composition, and social support. Accounting for various other demographic and military characteristics, results indicated that living as a single parent was associated with increased odds of reporting any past year anxiety or mood disorder. Additionally, those with a Bachelor’s degree or higher appeared to have decreased odds of reporting any past year anxiety or mood disorder. The results underline at risk groups and reinforce the value of considering the personal and social circumstances of military personnel in research on their mental health and well-being.