Table 3 Associations between demographic and service-related factors by mental health outcomes
Probable PTSD (N = 4211) | ||||
Factor | Value | |||
Number (%) | OR (95% CI) | AOR (95% CI)a | ||
Sex | Male | 298 (7.9) | 1 | – |
Female | 31 (7.0) | 0.87 (0.59–1.28) | – | |
Age | < 25 | 33 (15.4) | 2.57 (1.69–3.91)*** | 0.65 (0.35–1.21) |
25–29 | 44 (11.6) | 1.86 (1.28–2.69)** | 0.73 (0.43–1.24) | |
30–34 | 74 (11.7) | 1.87 (1.37–2.56)*** | 0.76 (0.49–1.19) | |
35–39 | 42 (10.9) | 1.71 (1.18–2.50)** | 1.00 (0.62–1.60) | |
40–49 | 104 (6.6) | 1 | 1 | |
50+ | 32 (3.1) | 0.45 (0.30–0.68)*** | 0.68 (0.42–1.09) | |
Education | No qualifications | 38 (16.5) | 2.49 (1.67–3.72)*** | 1.84 (1.14–2.99)* |
O-levels/ equivalent | 107 (9.5) | 1.32 (0.99–1.74) | 1.02 (0.73–1.43) | |
A-levels/ equivalent | 103 (7.4) | 1 | 1 | |
Degree or higher | 62 (4.8) | 0.63 (0.45–0.87)** | 0.92 (0.62–1.38) | |
Childhood family adversity | 0/1 | 141 (5.4) | 1 | 1 |
2/3 | 57 (7.5) | 1.42 (1.03–1.95)* | 1.29 (0.90–1.86) | |
4+ | 109 (16.7) | 3.54 (2.71–4.62)*** | 2.90 (2.11–4.00)*** | |
Childhood externalising behaviour | No | 198 (5.8) | 1 | 1 |
Yes | 116 (17.1) | 3.32 (2.59–4.24)*** | 1.46 (1.07–2.00)* | |
Rank | Officer | 32 (3.7) | 0.73 (0.48–1.11) | 1.01 (0.60–1.69) |
Senior NCO | 77 (5.0) | 1 | 1 | |
Junior NCO | 102 (10.5) | 2.24 (1.65–3.05)*** | 1.93 (1.28–2.91)** | |
Other rank | 114 (14.1) | 3.12 (2.31–4.23)*** | 3.17 (1.94–5.18)*** | |
Service arm | Naval Services | 49 (6.5) | 0.66 (0.48–0.91)* | 0.58 (0.39–0.87)** |
Army | 246 (9.5) | 1 | 1 | |
RAF | 34 (3.9) | 0.38 (0.27–0.55)*** | 0.55 (0.36–0.84)** | |
Deployment to Iraq/Afghanistan | Did not deploy | 84 (5.5) | 1 | 1 |
Deployed | 245 (9.1) | 1.71 (1.32–2.21)*** | 1.52 (1.11–2.07)** | |
Role in parent unit | Combat support/CSS | 177 (5.9) | 1 | 1 |
Combat | 148 (12.5) | 2.29 (1.82–2.88)*** | 1.52 (1.14–2.03)** | |
Method of leaving | Planned | 186 (5.4) | 1 | 1 |
Unplanned | 28 (18.0) | 3.83 (2.48–5.92)*** | 2.16 (1.31–3.58)** | |
Medical | 79 (29.5) | 7.32 (5.42–9.90)*** | 6.79 (4.80–9.62)*** | |
Common Mental Disorders (N = 4217) | ||||
Factor | Value | Number (%) | OR (95% CI) | AOR (95% CI)a |
Sex | Male | 891 (23.6) | 1 | – |
Female | 99 (22.3) | 0.93 (0.73–1.17) | – | |
Age | < 25 | 76 (36.2) | 1.87 (1.38–2.53)*** | 1.05 (0.68–1.63) |
25–29 | 120 (31.7) | 1.53 (1.19–1.95)** | 1.02 (0.72–1.44) | |
30–34 | 169 (26.7) | 1.20 (0.97–1.49) | 0.81 (0.61–1.08) | |
35–39 | 102 (26.2) | 1.17 (0.91–1.51) | 0.88 (0.65–1.20) | |
40–49 | 367 (23.3) | 1 | 1 | |
50+ | 156 (15.1) | 0.59 (0.48–0.72)*** | 0.71 (0.56–0.90)** | |
Education | No qualifications | 69 (29.9) | 1.43 (1.05–1.95)* | 1.17 (0.82–1.67) |
O-levels/ equivalent | 279 (24.8) | 1.11 (0.92–1.33) | 0.95 (0.77–1.17) | |
A-levels/ equivalent | 321 (22.9) | 1 | 1 | |
Degree or higher | 274 (20.9) | 0.89 (0.74–1.07) | 1.17 (0.94–1.46) | |
Childhood family adversity | 0/1 | 508 (19.3) | 1 | 1 |
2/3 | 205 (26.8) | 1.52 (1.26–1.84)*** | 1.50 (1.22–1.84)*** | |
4+ | 226 (34.7) | 2.22 (1.84–2.68)*** | 1.89 (1.52–2.35)*** | |
Childhood externalising behaviour | No | 703 (20.7) | 1 | 1 |
Yes | 250 (36.8) | 2.23 (1.87–2.66)*** | 1.42 (1.14–1.76)** | |
Rank | Officer | 157 (18.0) | 0.94 (0.76–1.17) | 1.09 (0.84–1.41) |
Senior NCO | 292 (18.9) | 1 | 1 | |
Junior NCO | 264 (27.1) | 1.60 (1.32–1.93)*** | 1.46 (1.14–1.88)** | |
Other rank | 270 (33.3) | 2.15 (1.77–2.60)*** | 1.80 (1.32–2.46)*** | |
Service arm | Naval Services | 163 (21.7) | 0.82 (0.67–0.99)* | 0.89 (0.71–1.11) |
Army | 654 (25.3) | 1 | 1 | |
RAF | 173 (19.7) | 0.72 (0.60–0.87)** | 0.94 (0.75–1.18) | |
Deployment to Iraq/Afghanistan | Did not deploy | 328 (21.6) | 1 | 1 |
Deployed | 662 (24.5) | 1.18 (1.01–1.37)* | 1.13 (0.94–1.34) | |
Role in parent unit | Combat support/CSS | 642 (21.3) | 1 | 1 |
Combat | 341 (28.8) | 1.50 (1.29–1.75)*** | 1.13 (0.93–1.36) | |
Method of leaving | Planned | 687 (19.9) | 1 | 1 |
Unplanned | 58 (37.2) | 2.38 (1.70–3.33)*** | 1.80 (1.25–2.60)** | |
Medical | 134 (50.0) | 4.02 (3.12–5.18)*** | 3.74 (2.84–4.91)*** | |
Alcohol misuse (N = 4,125) | ||||
Factor | Value | |||
Number (%) | OR (95% CI) | AOR (95% CI)b | ||
Sex | Male | 465 (12.6) | 1 | 1 |
Female | 23 (5.2) | 0.38 (0.25–0.58)*** | 0.45 (0.27–0.75)** | |
Age | < 25 | 61 (28.6) | 3.67 (2.61–5.16)*** | 2.54 (1.53–4.22)*** |
25–29 | 81 (22.9) | 2.71 (2.01–3.66)*** | 2.17 (1.42–3.30)*** | |
30–34 | 89 (14.5) | 1.55 (1.17–2.05)** | 1.43 (1.00–2.07) | |
35–39 | 38 (10.0) | 1.01 (0.70–1.47) | 0.91 (0.58–1.42) | |
40–49 | 152 (9.9) | 1 | 1 | |
50+ | 67 (6.6) | 0.64 (0.48–0.86)** | 0.70 (0.50–0.99)* | |
Education | No qualifications | 44 (19.1) | 1.98 (1.37–2.86)*** | 1.44 (0.94–2.21) |
O-levels/ equivalent | 181 (16.1) | 1.60 (1.27–2.02)*** | 1.31 (1.01–1.72)* | |
A-levels/ equivalent | 149 (10.7) | 1 | 1 | |
Degree or higher | 105 (8.1) | 0.73 (0.56–0.95)* | 1.08 (0.79–1.48) | |
Childhood family adversity | 0/1 | 230 (8.9) | 1 | 1 |
2/3 | 121 (16.2) | 1.97 (1.56–2.50)*** | 1.74 (1.34–2.26)*** | |
4+ | 114 (18.2) | 2.27 (1.78–2.90)*** | 1.64 (1.24–2.17)** | |
Childhood externalising behaviour | No | 300 (9.0) | 1 | 1 |
Yes | 174 (26.4) | 3.61 (2.93–4.46)*** | 2.28 (1.77–2.92)*** | |
Rank | Officer | 66 (7.6) | 0.87 (0.64–1.18) | 1.05 (0.73–1.52) |
Senior NCO | 131 (8.7) | 1 | 1 | |
Junior NCO | 135 (14.3) | 1.75 (1.36–2.26)*** | 1.12 (0.79–1.57) | |
Other rank | 152 (19.1) | 2.48 (1.93–3.19)*** | 1.09 (0.72–1.65) | |
Service arm | Naval Services | 74 (10.1) | 0.70 (0.53–0.91)** | 0.99 (0.73–1.50) |
Army | 350 (13.8) | 1 | 1 | |
RAF | 64 (7.4) | 0.50 (0.38–0.66)*** | 0.79 (0.58–1.10) | |
Deployment to Iraq/Afghanistan | Did not deploy | 160 (10.7) | 1 | – |
Deployed | 328 (12.5) | 1.19 (0.97–1.45) | – | |
Role in parent unit | Combat support/CSS | 293 (9.9) | 1 | 1 |
Combat | 189 (16.4) | 1.78 (1.47–2.17)*** | 1.18 (0.93–1.50) | |
Method of leaving | Planned | 367 (10.7) | 1 | 1 |
Unplanned | 46 (29.7) | 3.53 (2.48–5.06)*** | 2.19 (1.44–3.31)*** | |
Medical | 43 (16.3) | 1.63 (1.15–2.29)** | 1.29 (0.88–1.88) | |