THE INFLUENCE OF PARENTAL MILITARY SERVICE ON DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY DISORDERS AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS

Abstract

Background: The goal of this study was to examine the influence of being raised in a military household on current and historical depression and anxiety disorders among college students. Methods.: The Patient Health Questionnaire-2, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 questionnaire, and questions which included history of previous depression or anxiety diagnosis were used to determine mental health outcomes. Survey questions regarding parental military service and its nature, and demographic covariates composed the remainder of the instrument. Participants were 299 college students aged 18 and over, and enrolled in a large, urban based, state research university. Results: There was a positive correlation between parental military service and the odds for having been previously diagnosed with or treated for depression (r=0.126, p<=0.05). However, the level of significance did not remain when adjusting for covariates. Conclusion: These findings suggest that parental military service is not a reliable predictor of current or prior mental health issues among college students. These findings may have implications for military healthcare providers who are often at the forefront of treating the dependents of service members.