Pre-Pandemic Resilience to Trauma & COVID-19 Infection in Older Women.

OBJECTIVE: Prior work suggests psychological resilience to trauma may protect not only mental but also physical health. This study examined the relationship of pre-pandemic psychological resilience to lifetime trauma with self-reported COVID-19 infection and symptoms during the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Data are from 18,670 longitudinal cohort participants in the Nurses' Health Study II. Based on prior evidence that trauma and subsequent distress can increase infection risk and severity, and that psychological assets may offset this risk, we hypothesized higher versus lower psychological resilience to prior trauma would be associated with lower risk for COVID-19 infection. Pre-pandemic resilience was assessed via self-report between 2017-2019 based on self-reported lifetime trauma exposure and psychological health. COVID-19 infection and symptoms were self-reported on 7 questionnaires administered between May 2020 - October 2021, from which we derived a composite outcome measure of probable COVID-19 infection, defined as having 3+ COVID-19 symptoms (out of 9) and/or a positive COVID-19 test result at any single assessment. RESULTS: Multivariable regression revealed significant associations between higher pre-pandemic resilience scores and lower risk for probable COVID-19 infection, adjusting for socio-demographic and COVID-19-related risk factors (RR = 0.90 [95% CI 0.87, 0.93]). Considering subcomponents of the composite COVID-19 infection measure separately, pre-pandemic resilience was significantly associated with lower risk of reported symptoms (RR = 0.83 [95% CI 0.79, 0.88]), but not with a positive test result alone (RR = 0.96 (95% CI 0.91, 1.01]). CONCLUSION: Identifying protective factors for infection risk may help inform psychosocial interventions to improve health outcomes.

Social Support and Associated Factors Among Men and Women in Pre-COVID Substance Use Treatment.

Low levels of social support are related to negative health outcomes, representing further obstacles to recovery from substance use disorder (SUD). This study examined relationships among stressors, symptoms and social support in 124 women and 102 men engaged in two outpatient public sector substance use treatment programs. Multiple linear regression analyses were utilized to assess relationships between variables of interest and social support. Men reported significantly lower social support than women. Food insecurity was associated with lower social support for men (ß= -13.6 [95% CI -26.7, -0.4], p = 0.04). When examining emotional support and tangible aid, victimization history was related to lower support (both types) for women while food insecurity was associated with lower support (both types) for men. Depression was related to lower emotional support among both men and women. Substance use treatment programs should explicitly target social support and related stressors to facilitate recovery for the individuals they serve.

A Network Comparison of Sexual Dysfunction, Psychological Factors, and Body Dissociation between Individuals with and without Sexual Trauma Histories.

Sexual dysfunction is associated with psychological symptoms, including depression and anxiety. Sexual dysfunctions are often attributed to dissociation symptoms in individuals who reported sexual trauma histories. This study utilized a network approach to analyze relationships between sexual and psychological symptoms and examine whether the identified network structures differed between individuals who reported a history of sexual trauma and those who did not. Sexual dysfunction, history of sexual trauma, internalizing symptoms, dissociation symptoms, sex-related shame, and negative body image were assessed in 1,937 United States college students (women = 69.5%). Nearly half (46.8%) of the participants reported a sexual trauma history in their lifetime. Using regularized partial correlation networks, the relationships between sexual and psychological symptoms were analyzed and compared between groups with and without trauma histories. Internalizing symptoms were positively correlated with sexual dysfunction regardless of the presence of sexual trauma history. Anxiety had a stronger influence in the trauma network than in the no-trauma network. Feeling separated from the body during sexual activity was a central symptom and was related to difficulties relaxing and enjoying sex only in the trauma network. Sex-related shame appeared to play a more important role in men compared to women. To improve clinical practice of assessing and treating sexual dysfunction, researchers and clinicians should consider core symptoms that connect different aspects of sexual and psychological functioning while being aware of the unique role of dissociation in the context of traumatic stress.

Psychological Resilience to Trauma and Risk of COVID-19 Infection and Somatic Symptoms Across 2 Years.

OBJECTIVE: Exposure to trauma increases the risk of somatic symptoms, as well as acute and chronic physical diseases. However, many individuals display psychological resilience, showing positive psychological adaptation despite trauma exposure. Resilience to prior trauma may be a protective factor for physical health during subsequent stressors, including the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Using data from 528 US adults in a longitudinal cohort study, we examined psychological resilience to lifetime potentially traumatic events early in the pandemic and the risk of COVID-19 infection and somatic symptoms across 2 years of follow-up. Resilience was defined as level of psychological functioning relative to lifetime trauma burden, assessed in August 2020. Outcomes included COVID-19 infection and symptom severity, long COVID, and somatic symptoms assessed every 6 months for 24 months. Using regression models, we examined associations between resilience and each outcome adjusting for covariates. RESULTS: Higher psychological resilience to trauma was associated with a lower likelihood of COVID-19 infection over time, with one standard deviation higher resilience score associated with a 31% lower likelihood of COVID-19 infection, adjusting for sociodemographics and vaccination status. Furthermore, higher resilience was associated with lower levels of somatic symptoms during the pandemic, adjusting for COVID-19 infection and long COVID status. In contrast, resilience was not associated with COVID-19 disease severity or long COVID. CONCLUSIONS: Psychological resilience to prior trauma is associated with lower risk of COVID-19 infection and lower somatic symptoms during the pandemic. Promoting psychological resilience to trauma may benefit not only mental but also physical health.

Implementing Integrated Early Childhood Mental Health Services in Primary Care: Relationships, Vision, and Sustainability.

The Massachusetts Multi-City Young Children's System of Care Project was a federally funded program to provide integrated early childhood mental health (ECMH) services in primary care for families of very young children (birth-six years old) with Serious Emotional Disturbances across three cities in Massachusetts, U.S.A. This study describes lessons learned from the implementation of this program and makes recommendations for best practices to improve the delivery and efficacy of ECMH services in primary care settings. Staff and leadership (n = 35) from 11 agencies (primary care practices, community service agencies, and local health departments) that co-implemented this program participated in focus groups and semi-structured key informant interviews. Thematic analysis was used to characterize specific facilitators and barriers to successfully implementing system-wide programming for ECMH. Four main themes were identified: (1) Strong multilevel working relationships are critical for integration, (2) Capacity-building activities can be leveraged to improve implementation, (3) Financial challenges are a primary barrier to building efficacious systems of care, and (4) Flexibility and resourcefulness can help overcome logistical challenges in integration. Implementation lessons learned may serve as guidance for other states and institutions in the U.S. seeking to improve the integration of ECMH services into primary care. They may also provide strategies to adapt and scale these interventions to improve the mental health and well-being of young children and their families.

Sexual and physical revictimization in U.S. military veterans.

The present study examined revictimization, defined as sexual or physical assault in adulthood that followed a history of childhood maltreatment. We aimed to identify factors associated with revictimization over time in a group of U.S. military veterans deployed following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks (9/11). As revictimization is associated with multiple negative mental health outcomes in the literature, identifying risk and protective factors can aid in the prevention of revictimization and associated poor health outcomes among veterans. In this sample, the proportion of adult revictimization was 2.7% for men, 95% CI [2.0, 3.6] and 22.9% for women, 95% CI [20.5, 25.8]. Using multilevel logistic models, we found that women, ß = 2.2, p < .001; Navy veterans, ß = 1.5, p < .001; and participants who reported posttraumatic stress symptoms, ß = 0.2, p = .028, were at significantly higher risk of revictimization across time compared to nonrevictimized counterparts. Social support while in the military was protective, ß = -0.1, p < .001, against revictimization. In addition, childhood abuse experiences combined with characteristics such as female gender were related to an increased risk of revictimization during and following military service. The findings highlight opportunities for intervention and areas of strength within this population; social connection garnered during military service may serve as a protective factor against revictimization. Future research is needed to examine the role of social support in possibly lowering veterans' risk of revictimization over time, particularly for post-9/11 veterans struggling with transitioning from military to civilian life.

Engaging and Supporting Young Children and their Families in Early Childhood Mental Health Services: The Role of the Family Partner.

This study explores the role of family partners, peer professionals with lived experiences of raising a child with behavioral health needs, and their value in primary and community-care based mental health services for young children aged 0-8 years. Interviews and focus groups were conducted with staff, leadership, and caregiver participants (n = 38) from two early childhood mental health programs and analyzed using thematic analysis. Five interdependent themes emerged: (1) the centrality of lived experience to the family partner role; (2) the importance of the family partner in family engagement and relationship building; (3) the value added by the family partner in navigating systems; (4) the ability of the family partner to build skills and empower caregivers; (5) the role of the family partner in alleviating caregiver stress and other mental health concerns. Adapting and expanding the role of family partners will improve effective mental health care for children and their caregivers.

The relationship of pre- and post-resettlement violence exposure to mental health among refugees: a multi-site panel survey of somalis in the US and Canada.

BACKGROUND: A large body of research highlights the lasting impact of pre-resettlement violence on the mental health of refugees after resettlement. However, there is limited research on violence exposure after resettlement and its association with mental health. We examine the association of pre- and post-resettlement violence with post-resettlement mental health symptoms in a survey of Somali refugees in the US and Canada. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We collected survey data from 383 Somalis across five cities in the US and Canada (Boston, MA; Minneapolis, MN; Lewiston, NC; Portland, ME; Toronto, Canada). Wave 1 data were collected between May 2013 and January 2014, while Wave 2 was collected between June 2014 and August 2015. Data from both waves were used to examine whether the association of past violence exposures persists across time and with more recent violence exposures. The War Trauma Screening Scale assessed exposure to any pre- and post-resettlement violence at Wave 1, while the My Exposure to Violence scale assessed any past-year violence exposure at Wave 2. Mental health outcomes included symptoms of depression and anxiety (Hopkins Symptom Checklist) and post-traumatic stress symptoms (Harvard Trauma Questionnaire). Separate linear regression models at Waves 1 and 2 examined the relationship of past violence exposure to standardized scores of mental health symptoms. Participants were 22 years of age, on average. Fifty-six percent of our sample had been exposed to violence after resettlement by Wave 2. At Wave 1, the associations of pre- and post-resettlement violence with mental health were comparable in magnitude across depression [ß = 0.39, 95% CI (0.21 0.57) vs. ß = 0.36, 95% CI (0.10 0.62)], anxiety [ß = 0.33, 95% CI (0.12 0.55) vs. ß = 0.38, 95% CI (0.01 0.75)], and PTSD [ß = 0.55, 95% CI (0.37 0.72) vs. ß = 0.47, 95% CI (0.21 0.74)]. At Wave 2, pre-resettlement violence was associated with depressive symptoms only [ß = 0.23, 95% CI (0.06 0.40)], while past-year exposure to violence had the largest association with all mental health outcomes [depression: ß = 0.39, 95% CI (0.17 0.62); anxiety: ß = 0.46, 95% CI (0.01 0.75); PTSD: ß = 0.67, 95% CI 0.46 0.88)]. CONCLUSIONS: Our study is the first to examine refugees' exposure to post-resettlement violence across time, finding that Somali refugees' exposure is both persistent and prevalent after resettlement. Post-resettlement violence had a larger association with mental health than pre-resettlement exposure by Wave 2. Our study highlights the urgent need to understand the role of post-resettlement violence exposure for refugees in the US and Canada.

Post-9/11 military veterans' adjustment to civilian life over time following separation from service.

OBJECTIVES: US military veterans face many challenges in transitioning to civilian life; little information is available regarding veterans' reintegration experiences over time. The current study characterized veterans' postdeployment stressful life events and concurrent psychosocial wellbeing over one year and determined how stressors and wellbeing differ by demographic factors. METHODS: Recent Post-911 veterans (n = 402) were assessed approximately every three months for 1 year. Participants were 60% men, primarily White (78%), and 12% Latinx; the average age was 36 years. RESULTS: The frequency of stressful events decreased over time but was higher for men and minority-race veterans (independent of time since separation). Veterans reported high mean levels of posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and insomnia symptoms, which improved slightly over time. Minority-race and Latinx veterans had higher symptom levels and slower rates of symptom reduction. CONCLUSION: Veterans remain distressed in their overall transition to civilian life. Interventions to promote resilience and help veterans manage readjustment to civilian life appear urgently needed.

Trauma-informed Drug Screens for Veterans with Co-occurring Disorders: A Case Series.

Objective: This case series describes and illustrates the effective use of a trauma-informed approach, GLAPE, to provide drug screens for individuals in substance use treatment programs. The GLAPE approach recognizes that individuals who have experienced traumatic events and are recovering from substance use difficulties may also face unique challenges when engaging in mental health treatment. The nature of drug screening procedures in practice may feel invasive and triggering for clients with trauma histories. Finding ways to decrease barriers to treatment and increase engagement and retention are important components of effective substance use treatment. Methods: This case series involved three veteran cisgender men with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and co-occurring substance use conditions in an outpatient addiction recovery program in a Veterans' hospital. The cases illustrate how recovery can be aided by trauma-informed approaches for urine drug screens. The treatment team evaluated various monitoring modalities and collaborated with each client to form a treatment plan that implemented the GLAPE approach to bolster their recovery. The GLAPE approach includes five components: Giving detailed instructions prior to the urine screen procedure, listening to and eliciting questions and concerns of the client, articulating options and exhibiting flexibility in the procedure to accommodate the needs of the individual client, giving permission to the client to voice concerns at any point during the procedure, and evaluating the process in collaboration with the client, including what could be improved for next time. Results: Use of the GLAPE approach effectively helped to engage and retain military veterans with co-occurring PTSD and substance use disorder within a trauma informed outpatient program. Preliminary evidence from three cases provides that this approach may be useful for use in substance use treatment with clients who have trauma histories. Conclusions: Given widespread use of observed urine drug screens in substance use treatment programs, and prominent co-occurrence of substance use disorder and PTSD, it is essential that staff approach this procedure in a trauma-informed way. This case series illustrates an approach that can improve client experience, aid clients in treatment engagement, and assist staff in the provision of effective care.

Meaning and Management of Multiple Medications Among Public Mental Health Service Users.

Public mental health service users frequently manage multiple health conditions, and are often prescribed multiple medications. While medications are useful tools in treating diagnosed mental illnesses, they bring management challenges and also can carry complex meanings for the individuals taking them. This study utilized a qualitative methodological approach to examine the experience and meaning of polypharmacy among public mental health services users. This sample of service users (n = 26) who were prescribed multiple medications described three distinct types of challenges they faced in managing medications: related to information, material tasks, and self-stigma. Nevertheless, respondents reported creative and resilient strategies to manage these challenges. Findings build on previous literature and reflect the increasing need to focus on challenges related to polypharmacy. Furthermore, findings indicate that low levels of literacy and high levels of material disadvantage, which are common among public mental health service users, complicate the management and meaning of multiple medications.

Connecting Veterans and Their Community Through Narrative: Pilot Data on a Community Strengthening Intervention.

Military personnel transitioning to civilian life commonly report difficulty with establishing friendships, reconnecting with family, and a greater sense that they do not "fit in." Personal narrative interventions have the potential to increase the community's interest and understanding of Veterans' experience. This study examines the impact of a narrative intervention in which Veterans used film or verbal storytelling to describe their experience of being a Veteran to civilian audiences. A total 12 Veterans participated in at least one performance, and 88 community audience members attended one of six performances of the Veterans' narratives. Survey data indicate increase in positive attitudes towards Veterans, as well as a shift in the Veterans' perspective of civilians as receptive and supportive. These preliminary findings suggest that narrative interventions appear to have a positive impact on civilians' interest in Veterans and therefore, may be a valuable community reintegration intervention.

Use of Social Robots in Mental Health and Well-Being Research: Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Technology-assisted clinical interventions are increasingly common in the health care field, often with the proposed aim to improve access to and cost-effectiveness of care. Current technology platforms delivering interventions are largely mobile apps and online websites, although efforts have been made to create more personalized and embodied technology experiences. To extend and improve on these platforms, the field of robotics has been increasingly included in conversations of how to deliver technology-assisted, interactive, and responsive mental health and psychological well-being interventions. Socially assistive robots (SARs) are robotic technology platforms with audio, visual, and movement capabilities that are being developed to interact with individuals socially while also assisting them with management of their physical and psychological well-being. However, little is known about the empirical evidence or utility of using SARs in mental health interventions. OBJECTIVE: The review synthesizes and describes the nascent empirical literature of SARs in mental health research and identifies strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement in future research and practice. METHODS: Searches in Medline, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, PubMed, and IEEE Xplore yielded 12 studies included in the final review after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. Abstract and full-text reviews were conducted by two authors independently. RESULTS: This systematic review of the literature found 5 distinct SARs used in research to investigate the potential for this technology to address mental health and psychological well-being outcomes. Research on mental health applications of SARs focuses largely on elderly dementia patients and relies on usability pilot data with methodological limitations. CONCLUSIONS: The current SARs research in mental health use is limited in generalizability, scope, and measurement of psychological outcomes. Opportunities for expansion of research in this area include diversifying populations studied, SARs used, clinical applications, measures used, and settings for those applications.

Correction to: Veteran Coffee Socials: A Community-Building Strategy for Enhancing Community Reintegration of Veterans.

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake in co-author name and his affiliation. The author name should be Anthony Russo instead it was published as Antony Russo and his affiliation has been corrected.

Veteran Coffee Socials: A Community-Building Strategy for Enhancing Community Reintegration of Veterans.

Veterans transitioning from military to civilian life are vulnerable to a loss of social support and an increase in isolation from their communities, which can exacerbate other difficulties they may be experiencing, such as physical or mental health problems. Veteran Coffee Socials are an innovative community-building pilot intervention designed to foster social support and community between veterans. In seven target communities, certified peer specialists initiated and facilitated weekly "Veteran Coffee Socials"-open peer support groups for veterans, held in local coffee shop or restaurants. Over a 9-month period, an average of 8.5 veterans attended each meeting, for a total of 2236 veteran engagements across seven towns. A range of activities were identified as commonly occurring during these Veteran Coffee Socials. Veteran attendees routinely formed relationships with each other, representatives from community organizations, and staff from local and VA healthcare resources. One of the most common activities involved veterans receiving information and directions for enrollment into needed healthcare supports and to local community resources. Case descriptions are provided illustrate the potential positive impact of this intervention to build community and expand social support for returning veterans through the examination of three individual and three group examples.

The Aging Well through Interaction and Scientific Education (AgeWISE) Program.

OBJECTIVE: We conducted a randomized controlled trial of the Aging Well through Interaction and Scientific Education (AgeWISE) program, a 12-week manualized cognitive rehabilitation program designed to provide psychoeducation to older adults about the aging brain, lifestyle factors associated with successful brain aging, and strategies to compensate for age related cognitive decline. METHODS: Forty-nine cognitively intact participants ≥ 60 years old were randomly assigned to the AgeWISE program (n = 25) or a no-treatment control group (n = 24). Questionnaire data were collected prior to group assignment and post intervention. Two-factor repeated-measures analyses of covariance (ANCOVAs) were used to compare group outcomes. RESULTS: Upon completion, participants in the AgeWISE program reported increases in memory contentment and their sense of control in improving memory; no significant changes were observed in the control group. Surprisingly, participation in the group was not associated with significant changes in knowledge of memory aging, perception of memory ability, or greater use of strategies. CONCLUSIONS: The AgeWISE program was successfully implemented and increased participants' memory contentment and their sense of control in improving memory in advancing age. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: This study supports the use of AgeWISE to improve perspectives on healthy cognitive aging.

A mixed-methods analysis of moral injury among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers faced grave responsibilities amidst rapidly changing policies and material and staffing shortages. Moral injury, psychological distress following events where actions transgress moral beliefs/ expectations, increased among healthcare workers. We used a sequential mixed methods approach to examine workplace and contextual factors related to moral injury early in the pandemic. Using a Total Worker Health® framework, we 1) examined factors associated with moral injury among active healthcare professionals (N = 14,145) surveyed between May-August 2020 and 2) qualitatively analyzed open-ended responses from 95 randomly selected participants who endorsed moral injury on the survey. Compared to inpatient hospital, outpatient (OR = 0.74 [0.65, 0.85]) or school clinic settings (OR = 0.37 [0.18, 0.75]) were associated with lower odds of moral injury; while group care settings increased odds (OR = 1.36 [1.07, 1.74]). Working with COVID+ patients (confirmed+ OR = 1.27 [1.03, 1.55]), PPE inadequacy (OR = 1.54 [1.27, 1.87]), and greater role conflict (OR = 1.57 [1.53, 1.62]) were associated with greater odds of moral injury. Qualitative findings illustrate how outside factors as well as organizational policies and working conditions influenced moral injury. Moral injury experiences affected staff turnover and patient care, potentially producing additional morally injurious effects. Worker- and patient-centered organizational policies are needed to prevent moral injury among healthcare workers. The generalizability of these findings may be limited by our predominantly white and female sample. Further research is indicated to replicate these findings in minoritized samples.

Prior resilience to trauma & coping during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: This study examined the potential influence of pre-pandemic psychological resilience on use of approach or avoidant coping styles and strategies to manage stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. We hypothesized that higher resilience would be associated with more approach coping and less avoidant coping. DESIGN AND METHODS: Longitudinal cohort data were from the Nurses' Health Study II, including 13,143 female current and former healthcare professionals with pre-pandemic lifetime trauma. Pre-pandemic resilience was assessed between 2018-2019 and current coping during the outbreak of the pandemic in the United States (May-August 2020). Multiple linear regression model results identified associations between continuous pre-pandemic resilience scores and use of approach and avoidant coping styles, as well as individual coping strategies, adjusting for relevant covariates. RESULTS: Greater resilience was associated with higher use of approach coping (ß = 0.06, 95% CI 0.05, 0.08) and lower use of avoidant coping styles (ß = -0.39, 95% CI -0.41, -0.38). Higher pre-pandemic resilience was also associated with use of eight (distraction [ß = -0.18, 95% CI -0.20, -0.16], substance use [ß = -0.15, 95% CI -0.17, -0.13], behavioral disengagement [ß = -0.29, 95% CI -0.30, -0.27], self-blame [ß = -0.44, 95% CI -0.45, -0.42], emotional support (ß = 0.03, 95% CI 0.01, 0.05), positive reframing [ß = 0.13, 95% CI 0.12, 0.15], humor [ß = 0.03, 95% CI 0.01, 0.05] and religion [ß = 0.06, 95% CI 0.04, 0.08]) of the nine coping strategies in expected directions. CONCLUSION: Findings have important implications for intervention or even prevention efforts to support vulnerable groups, such as women with prior trauma histories, during this and other immensely stressful times. Supporting or building psychological resilience following trauma may promote effective coping in times of future stress.

Alignment of state-level policies and public attitudes towards abortion legality and government restrictions on abortion in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Contextual factors can shape public opinion towards abortion. We investigated the association between the state-level abortion legislative climate and individual attitudes towards abortion legality and government restrictions of abortion access in the United States. METHODS: Data come from the 2020 Cooperative Congressional Election Study (n = 61,000). Using multivariable logistic regression with generalized estimating equations, we explored whether state-level abortion policy climates (based on the Guttmacher Institute's 2020 rating of state abortion policies) were associated with individual attitudes (1) towards abortion legality, and (2) towards government restriction of abortion access, controlling for individual socio-demographic factors. RESULTS: Eighty-eight percent of participants supported the legality of abortion in some or all circumstances. Conversely, 30% of the sample opposed all federal government restrictions on abortion. More than 60% of the sample lived in highly abortion-restrictive states. Participants living in states with a more supportive abortion legislative climate were more likely to support the legality of abortion in some or all circumstances (AOR = 1.07, (95% CI 1.05, 1.09). Participants in states with more supportive abortion policies were more likely to oppose federal governmental restrictions (AOR = 1.03, 95% CI 1.02, 1.04). Low religiosity, higher educational attainment, and politically liberal views were associated with increased support for abortion legality and increased opposition to government restrictions on abortion. CONCLUSIONS: State-level abortion policy contexts were positively associated with public attitudes towards abortion. While attitudes towards abortion legality are favorable across the country; there is also strong support at least one type of government restriction on abortion access. Results highlight a disconnect between multifaceted public attitudes towards abortion and polarized state contexts, suggesting that policymaking on abortion represents a higher level of polarization than exists at the individual level. Policymakers and legislators should more carefully consider the desires of the public when designing abortion legislation.

Social support over time for men and women veterans with and without complex trauma histories.

Social support is closely linked to health, but little is known about United States (U.S.) veterans' social support over time and factors that may influence their support trajectories. This study investigates social support over time for U.S. men and women Post-9/11 veterans in relation to trauma history and gender. A secondary analysis of longitudinal cohort data from the Survey of Experiences of Returning Veterans (SERV), which employed a repeated-measures longitudinal design using five waves of data (baseline, 3, 6, 9, 12 months) with 672 combat veterans. Results from random intercept multilevel models found no significant gender differences in social support over time. Veterans with complex trauma histories were at risk for lower social support across waves. A stability trend was also observed; specifically, at baseline, veterans who started with high support maintained their level over time whereas veterans who started with deficits in social support remained low over time. Veterans identifying as African American or Latinx, and those with lower annual incomes, reported lower support compared to White and higher-income veterans. Furthermore, low social support was significantly associated with severe posttraumatic stress symptoms and active suicidal ideation across 12 months. SERV utilized a nonrandom sampling method that may reduce generalizability of findings. There is also potential for residual confounding by factors related to both social support levels and time since discharge that were not available in this data set. Findings have implications for developing clinical and community interventions intended to support veterans as they transition back to the community. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).