Publications

The following manuscripts have been published or are currently in press. Listings are in chronological order, unless otherwise noted.

Research Publication 2
Title Publication Date/Location
The effect of combat exposure on financial problems International Review of Economics and Finance 2022 May;79:241-257

Ackerman A, Porter, B

This paper examined whether combat exposure led to new-onset financial problems and financial stress among 64,508 veterans using 2001-2016 data from the Millennium Cohort Study. The average predicted probability of developing a new major financial problem (such as bankruptcy) and greater financial stress increased 0.44% (21% relative to the mean probability) following a single combat exposure and increased 0.90% (43% relative to the mean probability) following multiple combat exposures. The likelihood of financial decline resulting from combat exposure were greater for veterans with poorer pre-deployment mental or physical health, veterans in enlisted ranks, and younger veterans between the ages of 26 and 36. These results translate to a crude cost estimate of lost productivity of at least $41 million and up to 3,629 bankruptcies for the 2.7 million veterans (1.34 per 1,000) deployed from 2001 through 2016.

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The Millennium Cohort Study: The First 20 Years of Research Dedicated to Understanding the Long-Term Health of US Service Members and Veterans Annals of Epidemiology 2022 Mar;67:61-72

Belding JN, Castañeda SF, Jacobson IG, LeardMann CA, Porter B, Powell TM, Kolaja CA, Seelig AD, Matsuno RK, Carey FR, Rivera AC, Trone DW, Sheppard B, Walstrom J, Boyko EJ, Rull RP, For The Millennium Cohort Study Team

In commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Millennium Cohort Study, this paper provides a summary of the study design, key findings, and future directions. Published findings are summarized and categorized into 3 core areas (psychological health, physical health, and health-related behaviors) and several crosscutting areas culminating in more than 120 publications to date. The Study will continue to foster stakeholder relationships such that research findings inform and guide policy initiatives and health promotion efforts.

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Combat exposure and behavioral health in U.S. Army Special Forces PLoS One 2022 Jun 28;17(6):e0270515

Rivera AC, LeardMann CA, Rull RP, Cooper A, Warner S, Faix D, Deagle E, Neff R, Caserta R, Adler AB, Millennium Cohort Study Team

In this cross-sectional study using Millennium Cohort Study data, various types of combat, such as combat severity, fighting, threat to oneself, and killing noncombatants, were consistently associated with mental health disorders, trouble sleeping, and problem drinking among all three Army occupational specialization investigated (General Purpose Forces infantrymen, Ranger Qualified infantrymen, and Special Forces personnel). However, with few exceptions, Special Forces personnel and Ranger Qualified infantrymen had lower prevalence of these adverse outcomes. Findings suggest that even elite personnel may be negatively impacted by experiencing combat, thus trainings and interventions focused on moral conflict reasoning and resolution may help to mitigate some of these adverse behavioral outcomes.

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Association of Problematic Anger With Long-term Adjustment Following the Military-to-Civilian Transition JAMA Network Open 2022 Jul 1;5(7):e2223236

Adler AB, LeardMann CA, Villalobos J, Jacobson IG, Forbes D, for the Millennium Cohort Study Team

In the Millennium Cohort Study’s third paper documenting the risks associated with problematic anger, 15.9% of active duty service members reported problematic anger two years before military separation. This prevalence essentially doubled to 31.2% two years following separation. Problematic anger around the time of military separation was associated with PTSD, depression, low relationship quality, difficulties coping with parental demands, low social support, and economic difficulties approximately 5 years later, after adjustment for demographics and baseline health. Findings suggest that training in emotion regulation may improve the military-to-civilian transition.

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Military service experiences and reasons for service separation among lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals in a large military cohort BMC Public Health 2022 Jan 6;22(1):39

Carey FR, Jacobson IG, Lehavot K, LeardMann CA, Kolaja CA, Stander VA, Rull RP

The goal of this study was to examine differences in military and service separation experiences by sexual orientation among a large representative sample of United States service members and veterans. Survey data from the 2016 Millennium Cohort Study follow-up questionnaire were used to assess sexual orientation (lesbian, gay, and bisexual [LGB] versus heterosexual) and military experiences and service separation experiences. Of the 99,599 participants, 3.4% identified as LGB. Those service members were more likely than their heterosexual peers to report feeling unimpressed by the quality of unit leadership, unsupported by the military, and negative about the military overall. LGB veterans were more likely than heterosexual peers of the same sex to separate from service for a variety of reasons (e.g., administrative, dissatisfaction with promotions/pay, disability/medical reasons, dissatisfaction with leadership and incompatibility with the military). Less positive military- and separation-specific experiences disproportionately affected LGB service members in this study. Promoting inclusion and increasing support for LGB service members may improve satisfaction with military service and retention.

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Factors associated with human papillomavirus vaccine initiation and compliance among U.S. military service members Military Medicine 2022 Jan 25:usab562

Matsuno RK, Seay J, Porter B, Tannenbaum K, Warner S, Wells N

The goal of this study was to assess factors associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine initiation and compliance in a cohort of active duty US military service members (SM). We included active-duty participants aged 18-26 years from the Millennium Cohort Study, a longitudinal cohort study of over 200,000 military SMs. The eligible study population included 22,387 female SMs and 31,705 male SMs. Vaccination was assessed over the period 2006-2017. Among female SMs, 37.8% initiated the vaccine and 40.2% of initiators completed the series within a year. Among male SMs, 3.9% initiated the vaccine and 22.1% of initiators completed the series within a year. Differences were observed by sociodemographic factors, deployment status, branch of service, occupation, and smoking status, but not by selected mental health conditions. These results indicated that HPV vaccination uptake may be subpar across all military service branches. Certain subgroups of SMs could be targeted to increase overall HPV vaccine coverage in the US military population.

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Problematic Anger and Economic Difficulties: Findings from the Millennium Cohort Study Journal of Affective Disorders 2022 Jan 15;297:679-68

Adler AB, LeardMann CA, Yun S, Jacobson IG, Forbes D; Millennium Cohort Study Team

Of 95,895 participants, 17.4% screened positive for problematic anger. Problematic anger was significantly associated with involuntary job loss and financial problems, adjusting for demographics, military characteristics, disabling injury, and behavioral health factors. Among veterans, problematic anger was associated with unemployment and homelessness after adjustment for covariates. These findings suggest it may be useful for military leaders, veteran organizations, and policy makers to support the adjustment and financial health of military personnel and veterans by proactively addressing problematic anger.

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Occupation and Risk of Traumatic Brain Injury in the Millennium Cohort Study Military Medicine 2022 Feb 27;usac035

Jannace KC, Pompeii L, Gimeno Ruiz de Porras D, Perkison WB, Yamal JM, Trone DW, Rull RP

Using 2014-16 survey data from active duty 33,646 Millennium Cohort Study participants, we assessed the association between their primary military occupational categories (MOC) and self-reported traumatic brain injury (TBI) sustained during military service. Adjusting for military and demographic characteristics and pre-service TBI, all MOCs except for health care MOCs were statistically significantly more likely to experience service-related TBI compared with “Administration & Executive” MOCs, while those in “Infantry/Tactical Operations” had the highest odds of service-related TBI. Enlisted (28%) personnel were more likely than officers (24%) to experience a service-related TBI. Results highlight the importance of targeting specific occupational categories for TBI risk reduction and a quantification of risk among enlisted MOCs suggests a need for further research into the causes of TBI.

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The bi-directional relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder and obstructive sleep apnea and/or insomnia in a large U.S. military cohort Sleep Health 2022 December; 8(6):606-614

Chinoy ED, Carey FR, Kolaja CA, Jacobson IG, Cooper AD, Markwald RR

Study findings indicate a bi-directional relationship between the development of sleep disorders and PTSD. Military-related factors associated with new onset PTSD or sleep disorders, such as combat deployment, recent military separation, and rank, should be considered in prevention efforts for sleep disorders and PTSD.

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Association of deployment with maintenance of healthy weight among active duty service members in the Millennium Cohort Study Obesity Science and Practice 2022 Apr;8(2):247-253

Carey FR, Jacobson IG, Roenfeldt KA, Rull RP

Understanding changes in weight in relation to deployment readiness can inform Department of Defense fitness policies. This study examined longitudinal associations between deployment and service branch-specific changes in body mass index (BMI) among active duty participants without obesity (BMI< 30kg/m2) at baseline (n=22,995). Service members, particularly Army and Marine Corps personnel, with longer deployments were less likely to maintain a healthy weight (BMI < 30) than those with shorter deployment lengths. Conversely, each additional deployment increased the likelihood of maintaining a healthy weight post-deployment for personnel in the Army, Marine Corps, and within the pooled population. These results indicate that multiple deployments may support healthy weight maintenance and longer deployments may adversely impact weight maintenance. Fitness policies designed to optimize service member readiness should consider modifiable behaviors related to weight gain among those who are deployed for long periods of time.

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