The role of maternal relationship in the persisting effect of combat exposure

• In Event: 4266 - Section on Aging and the Life Course Refereed Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable 100min: 8. Social and Familial Support

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The veteran population is aging. Combat exposure is associated with negative health and psychological outcomes in some, but not all veterans; others even appear to experience gains. One mechanism driving these varied responses might be early life relationships. This study investigated the extent to which the quality of early maternal relationships influences the association between combat exposures and life satisfaction (LS) among older male veterans.
Research Design and Methods: Data were drawn from a pooled sample of male veterans in the Health and Retirement Study who completed the 2013 Veteran Mail Survey (N=1,160). We used OLS regression to examine the association between combat exposures (with and without exposure to the death) and LS, and the moderating effect of maternal relationship quality on this association.
Results: We found a significant negative effect of combat (net of exposure to death) on LS, and a significant positive association between maternal relationship quality and LS. The impact of combat exposure on LS was dependent on maternal relationship such that combat exposed veterans with poor maternal relationship quality reported lower LS, whereas combat exposed veterans with high relationship quality reported higher LS - relative to their non-combat exposed counterparts. The effects of exposure to death did not mediate or moderate this relationship.
Discussion and Implications: Findings indicate that maternal relationships had a lasting influence on whether combat contributed to a positive, negative, or neutral long-term effect on wellbeing. Findings support previous studies that suggest early life factors may play an important role in the fostering of resilient health outcomes over the life course. Implications for preventative strategies in soldiers are discussed.

Authors

• Dawn Celeste Carr, Florida State University

• Miles G. Taylor, Florida State University

• Natalie Sachs-Ericsson, Florida State University

• Alex Meyer, Florida State University