Associations of military divorce with mental, behavioral, and physical health outcomes

Wang, Lawrence; Seelig, Amber; Wadsworth, Shelley MacDermid; McMaster, Hope; Alcaraz, John E.; Crum-Cianflone, Nancy F.

doi:10.1186/s12888-015-0517-7

BMC Psychiatry

Table 1 Baseline demographic, military, and behavioral characteristics by marital status^a

From: Associations of military divorce with mental, behavioral, and physical health outcomes

	Recently divorced		Stayed married		Total
	n =1545		n = 27,769		n =29,314
Baseline characteristics^b	n	(%)	n	(%)	n	(%)
Sex
Male	959	62.07	22800	82.11	23759	81.05
Female	586	37.93	4969	17.89	5555	18.95
Age
Born before 1960	236	15.28	7581	27.30	7817	26.67
1960-1969	668	43.24	13195	47.52	13863	47.29
1970-1979	599	38.77	6767	24.37	7366	25.13
1980 and after	42	2.72	226	0.81	268	0.91
Education
Some college or less	1212	78.45	18289	65.86	19501	66.52
Bachelor’s degree or higher	333	21.55	9480	34.14	9813	33.48
Race/Ethnicity
White, non-Hispanic	1098	71.07	20171	72.64	21269	72.56
Black, non-Hispanic	214	13.85	2853	10.27	3067	10.46
Other	233	15.08	4745	17.09	4978	16.98
Combat deployment
Not deployed	1030	66.67	19076	68.70	20106	68.59
Deployed, without combat	279	18.06	4345	15.65	4624	15.77
Deployed, with combat	236	15.28	4348	15.66	4584	15.64
Prior deployment
Yes	445	28.80	9053	32.60	9498	32.40
No	1100	71.20	18716	67.40	19816	67.60
Military pay grade
Enlisted	1263	81.75	18807	67.73	20070	68.47
Officer	282	18.25	8962	32.27	9244	31.53
Service component
Active duty	873	56.50	14951	53.84	15824	53.98
Reserve/National Guard	672	43.50	12818	46.16	13490	46.02
Service branch
Army	721	46.67	12940	46.60	13661	46.60
Navy/Coast Guard	228	14.76	4373	15.75	4601	15.70
Air Force	538	34.82	9432	33.97	9970	34.01
Marines	58	3.75	1024	3.69	1082	3.69
Military occupation
Combat specialist	273	17.67	6402	23.05	6675	22.77
Health care	165	10.68	2997	10.79	3162	10.79
Other	1107	71.65	18370	66.15	19477	66.44
History of potential alcohol dependence^c
Yes	296	19.16	4617	16.63	4913	16.76
No	1249	80.84	23152	83.37	24401	83.24
Smoking status
Current smoker	317	20.52	3958	14.25	4275	14.58
Other	1228	79.48	23811	85.75	25039	85.42
Body mass index^d
Underweight and normal weight	701	45.37	8670	31.22	9371	31.97
Overweight	717	46.41	15975	57.53	16692	56.94
Obese	127	8.22	3124	11.25	3251	11.09
Mental component summary score^e
Lowest 15^th percentile	296	19.16	2568	9.25	2864	9.77
Middle 70^th percentile	1043	67.51	19553	70.41	20596	70.26
Highest 15^th percentile	206	13.33	5648	20.34	5854	19.97
Physical component summary score^e
Lowest 15^th percentile	188	12.17	3604	12.98	3792	12.94
Middle 70^th percentile	1065	68.93	20675	74.45	21740	74.16
Highest 15^th percentile	292	18.90	3490	12.57	3782	12.90

^a Participants in this study completed a baseline survey in 2001–2003 and completed a follow-up survey in 2004–2006. Marital status assessed from baseline to first follow-up, where those who were “recently divorced” were married at their baseline survey and got divorced before their follow-up survey, those who “stayed married” were married throughout the study period
^b All characteristics were significantly associated with exposure at p < 0.05, except for service branch (p = 0.74)
^c Potential alcohol dependence is defined as at least 1 positive response to the CAGE questionnaire (Cutting down, Annoyance by criticism, Guilty feeling, and Eye-openers)
^d Body mass index is defined using Center for Disease Control and Prevention standards of Underweight (Less than 18.5 kg/m²), Normal range (18.5-24.99), Overweight (25–29.9), and Obese (≥30.0)
^e Mental component summary score and physical component summary score are obtained from the Short Form-36 Question Health Survey for Veterans (SF-36 V)

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