Understanding the psychological health trajectories of older Canadian Veterans

Veterans in Canada face a multitude of challenges as they transition from military to civilian life and growing evidence suggests that the health indicators of Veterans differ from the Canadian general population. To better address the needs of aging Veterans, it is important to examine the indicators of health, disability, and determinants of health to understand how these factors impact Veterans’ psychological health and well-being over time. Limited research has explored the trajectories of older Veterans and the evolution of their health outcomes over time. Using longitudinal data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, we will 1) evaluate the trajectories of psychological health among older Veterans over time and identify distinct subgroups of trajectories within the Veterans’ population, and 2) identify prospective predictors that impact Veterans’ psychological health. This study will generate knowledge that can be applied to improve the health and well-being of Veterans.