Post-High School Military Enlistment and Long-Term Well-Being

• Published in: Emerging adulthood (Thousand Oaks, CA) Vol. 11; no. 1; pp. 234 - 241
• Main Authors: Lucier-Greer, Mallory, O’Neal, Catherine W., Peterson, Clairee, Reed-Fitzke, Kayla, Wickrama, K.A.S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01-02-2023; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Health behavior; Health status; Longitudinal studies; Medical diagnosis; Mental health; Military service; Post traumatic stress disorder; Secondary schools; Servicemen; Well being; enlistment; physical health; mental health; socioeconomic well-being; military; risky lifestyle behaviors; emerging adults
• ISSN: 2167-6968; 2167-6984
• DOI: 10.1177/21676968221131854

Longitudinal data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health were used to evaluate the impact of post-high school military enlistment during emerging adulthood. Comparisons were made between matched samples of emerging adults who enlisted in the military (n = 576) and their civilian counterparts (n = 576) on well-being over a decade later. Well-being was broadly conceptualized to reflect socioeconomic well-being, physical health, mental health, and risky lifestyle behaviors. Matching maximizes confidence that findings reflect differences due to enlistment, rather than pre-existing characteristics that contribute to both enlistment rates and well-being. No consistent differences emerged between the matched samples. Service members reported some indicators of better mental health (perceived stress, anxiety), yet higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis, and civilians reported some indicators of better physical health. Strengths-based perspectives and models that account for the concurrent possibility that military service may positively and negatively impact well-being are needed in future research.