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. 2023 Aug;114(4):651-658.
doi: 10.17269/s41997-023-00758-5. Epub 2023 Mar 15.

Adolescent mental health in military families: Evidence from the Canadian Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study

John Kinley  1 , Samira Feizi  1 , Frank J Elgar  2
Affiliations

Adolescent mental health in military families: Evidence from the Canadian Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study

John Kinley et al. Can J Public Health. 2023 Aug.

Abstract
in English, French

Objectives: To investigate the association between physical and mental health symptoms in adolescents and having a parent in the Canadian Armed Forces and the moderation of these associations by various sources of social support.

Methods: We used data on a nationally representative sample of 18,886 adolescents (11-15 years) in the 2017/18 Canadian Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study (HBSC). Survey assessments included multi-item scales of mental and physical health symptoms and sources of social support (peers, families, classmates, and teachers). Poisson regression was used to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRR) of weekly symptoms in military versus non-military youths. Moderation of differences between these groups were tested using interactions of variables representing support and military families.

Results: Military youth, compared to non-military youth, reported more mental health symptoms (IRR = 1.20; 95% CI 1.08, 1.33) but only marginally more physical symptoms (IRR = 1.15; 95% CI 1.00, 1.33) in the previous week. These associations were stronger in youths who reported lower levels of peer support (IRR = 0.99; 95% CI 0.98, 1.00 [mental health symptoms]; IRR = 0.98; 95% CI 0.97, 1.00 [physical health symptoms]). Support from families, classmates and teachers did not moderate differences in mental or physical symptoms.

Conclusion: Canadian adolescents in military families have increased risk for experiencing poor mental health. Peer support may play a protective role, however further research is needed to guide clinical interventions for this unique population.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIFS: Étudier l’association entre les symptômes de santé physique et mentale chez les adolescents et le fait d’avoir un parent dans les forces armées canadiennes et la modération de ces associations par diverses sources de soutien social. MéTHODES: Nous avons utilisé les données d’un échantillon national représentatif d’adolescents (n = 18 886; 11 à 15 ans) dans l’étude 2017–2018 sur les comportements de santé des enfants d’âge scolaire (HBSC) au Canada. Les évaluations de l’enquête comprenaient des échelles multi-items de symptômes de santé mentale et physique et des sources de soutien social (pairs, familles, camarades de classe et enseignants). Un modèle de régression de Poisson a servi à estimer les rapports de taux d’incidence (TRI) des symptômes hebdomadaires chez les jeunes militaires par rapport aux jeunes non militaires. La modération des écarts entre ces groupes a été testée en utilisant les interactions entre le soutien militaire et les variables familiales. RéSULTATS: Les jeunes militaires, comparativement aux jeunes non militaires, ont signalé plus de symptômes de santé mentale (TRI = 1,20; IC à 95% 1,08, 1,33), mais seulement légèrement plus de symptômes physiques (TRI = 1,15; IC à 95% 1,00, 1,33) au cours de la semaine précédente. Ces associations étaient plus fortes chez les jeunes qui ont déclaré des niveaux inférieurs de soutien par les pairs (IRR = 0,99; IC à 95% 0,98, 1,00 [symptômes de santé mentale]; IRR = 0,98; IC à 95% 0,97, 1,00 [santé physique symptômes]). Le soutien des familles, des camarades de classe et des enseignants n’a pas atténué les différences de symptômes mentaux ou physiques. CONCLUSION: Les adolescents canadiens de familles militaires sont exposés à un risque accru de maladie mentale. Le soutien par les pairs peut jouer un rôle de protection, mais il faut effectuer d’autres recherches pour orienter les interventions cliniques auprès de cette population unique.

Keywords: Adolescents; Mental health; Military health; Peer support; Youth.

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Conflict of interest statement

None to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Predicted incidence of weekly mental health symptoms (left panel) and weekly physical health symptoms (right panel) by peer support in military youth (n = 1815) and non-military youth (n = 17,071). Shaded areas represent 95% confidence intervals
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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