Military and Veterans Studies Commons^™

Research Brief: "Effectiveness Of Supported Employment For Veterans With Spinal Cord Injuries: Results From A Randomized Multisite Study", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This study was the first of its kind to study the effectiveness of any type of vocational rehabilitation (VR) intervention after a spinal cord injury, and it found that veterans who were provided supported employment were 2.5 times more likely than veterans in the treatment as usual-interventional site (TAU-IS) group and 11.4 times more likely than the treatment as usual-observational site (TAU-OS) group to obtain competitive employment. In practice, veterans seeking employment should enroll in a supported employment program at their local VA. In policy, the VA might recommend that veterans with SCI participate in SE soon after they have …

Research Brief: "Cost-Effectiveness Of Supported Employment For Veterans With Spinal Cord Injuries", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This study focuses on individuals with a spinal cord injury (SCI) and their employment challenges. Clinical trials on supported employment (SE) intervention have established that SE is at least two times more effective in gaining competitive employment, and the cost of Spinal Cord Injury Vocational Integration Program (SCI-VIP) intervention at the one-year mark was not significantly different from the usual employment assistance offered to veterans with SCI. In practice, Veterans with SCI looking for employment should participate in SE interventions offered through the VA or other organizations, and Veterans with SCI who are seeking employment should know that there are …

Research Brief: "The Evaluation Of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction For Veterans With Mental Health Conditions", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This brief is about the usage of mindfulness-based stress reduction for the psychological well-being of veterans with mental health conditions. In policy and practice, mindfulness-based stress reduction instructors should be certified in the processes of mindfulness, and professionals should create a standardized mindfulness-based stress reduction treatment manual; the VHA could include mindfulness-based stress reduction treatments into current treatment plans and could commission studies about if they are more cost-effective than pharmacologic treatments. Suggestions for future research include conducting individual interviews in addition to group interviews, and assessing the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction on PTSD outcomes.

Research Brief: "Preferences For Gender-Targeted Health Information: A Study Of Male Veterans Who Have Experienced Military Sexual Trauma", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This brief is about male veterans' preferences for health information provided to them after experiencing military sexual trauma and the effect of that information on use of mental health services. In policy and practice, veterans who have experienced military sexual trauma should seek military sexual trauma care from the VA, health practitioners should learn more about military sexual assault to better help servicemembers, and gender-targeted literature should be distributed to servicemembers who have experienced military sexual trauma; the VHA should include gender-specific resources for male veterans who experienced military sexual trauma. Suggestions for future research include the addition of a …

Research Brief: "The Impact Of Sport And Physical Activity On The Well-Being Of Combat Veterans: A Systematic Review", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This brief is about the influence that sports and exercise have on veterans' well-being and therapies that impact the well-being of combat veterans. In policy and practice, healthcare practitioners should prepare comprehensive treatment models that encompass physical activity and sports where appropriate, and support groups should encourage veterans to participate in competitive sports or other recreational activities; the DoD could expand programs to provide sports to more disabled combat veterans and the VA should re-evaluate its programs to ensure there are no barriers to participation. Suggestions for future research include studying the effects of sports and exercise on the well-being …

Research Brief: "Women At War: Understanding How Women Veterans Cope With Combat And Military Sexual Trauma", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This brief is about stressors during military service that OEF/OIF female veterans experienced and how they coped with the stress. In policy and practice, female veterans should tell healthcare providers of their healthcare needs, and should form support groups with other veteran women; family members should support returning female service members; the VA should adapt its services to address the needs of female veterans, policymakers should allocate funding toward creating non-VA mental health and substance abuse counseling, and the VA should offer gender-specific mental health programs. Suggestions for future research include analyzing differences between age groups and length of time …

Beyond Health: The Meaning Of Recreation Participation For Injured Service Members, Catherine Munroe

All Theses

The Global War on Terrorism and the ongoing contingency operations have resulted in a large number of service members returning home with life changing traumatic injuries. As a result, there has been a surge of programs designed to facilitate transition into life with a disability and promote recovery from injury, including programs providing recreation and sports. The purpose of this qualitative study is to examine the effects of recreation and sport participation on injured service members' recovery and enhancement of health. Health is investigated using the World Health Organization's definition which includes physical, mental, and social well-being. Interviews were conducted …

Research Brief: "Housing Instability And Mental Distress Among Us Veterans", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This study highlights potential relationships between veteran mental health and veteran housing instability. This research shows that veterans reporting housing instability have an increased likelihood of symptoms of mental distress and mental illness, especially among female, younger, and unmarried veterans. Future researchers should conduct similar studies throughout the United States, as well as look at long-term data for the purpose of providing ways to improve quality of life for at-risk veterans.

Research Brief: "Caregiving Experiences And Health Conditions Of Women Veteran And Non-Veteran Caregivers", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This brief is a summary of women veteran caregivers experiencing health concerns, including sleeplessness, poor mental health, and some chronic conditions.

High-Intensity Tasks With External Load In Military Applications: A Review, Eric K. O'Neal, Jared H. Hornsby, Kyle J. Kelleran

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

This article provides a synopsis of the limited investigations examining the impact of external load (EL) on performance of high-intensity tasks under load (HITL), EL training intervention effects on HITL performance, and injuries from EL training. Repetitive lifting tasks and initiation of locomotion, such as rapidly moving from a prone position to sprinting appear to be more hindered by EL than maximal sprinting velocity and may explain why training with EL does not improve obstacle course or prolonged (200-300 yard shuttle) drills. EL training appears to offer very little if any benefit for HITL in lesser trained populations. This contrast …

Factors Influencing U.S Army Personnel Meeting Body Mass Index Standards, Salma Theus

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Factors Influencing U.S. Army Personnel Meeting Body Mass Index Standards

by

Salma Theus

MS, California State University, Dominguez Hills, 2008

BA, La Sierra University, 2005

Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements for the Degree of

Doctor of Philosophy

Psychology

Walden University

September 2014

U.S. Army Regulations require soldiers to be fit, as excessive weight negatively impacts their readiness, health, and morale. A quantitative study examined if personal, behavioral, and/or environmental factors predict a soldier's self-efficacy and body mass index. Data were obtained from 117 soldiers on 6 scales: the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, the Army Physical Fitness …

Research Brief: "Peer Mentoring And Financial Incentives To Improve Glucose Control In African American Veterans", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This brief is about whether peer mentoring and financial incentives given to African American veterans with diabetes improves their glucose levels. In policy and practice, African American veterans should join peer mentoring programs to help them control their diabetes and consult with their physician about peer mentoring; the VHA should create a peer mentoring program for veterans with diabetes to help with diabetes management. Suggestions for future research include using a larger, more diverse sample, looking at how the peer mentoring helps veterans, and looking at the ways in which veterans lowered their glucose levels in addition to taking part …

Research Brief: "Investing In Vets: Strategies To Help Returning Gulf War Vets Enter The Civilian Work Force Successfully", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This study found that corporate leadership, veteran-specific training, and a long-term commitment to veterans’ employment were all significant factors in diminishing barriers to veteran employment and reintegration. In practice, social workers who understand business and organizational change can be leaders in supporting veterans in the workplace, and also in advocating for positive social change for veterans and their families. For employers, increased cultural competence concerning military populations would be helpful. In policy, organizations should work on creating coalitions of corporate leaders who have the power to change policies, programs, and practices, and who will monitor the success of these policy …

Research Brief: "Substance Use Among Military-Connected Youth: The California Healthy Kids Survey", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This research studies the correlation between youth with deployed family members in their lifetime and recent substance use in youth, and found substance use positively correlated with the number of family member deployments. Implications of these findings suggest that monitoring behavior could potentially lead to providing the emotional support necessary to prevent adolescents from turning to substance use, and policy should reflect this by implementing emotional support programs for adolescents with deployed family members. Future research in this area should investigate alternative coping mechanisms for youth dealing with the deployment of a family member, as well as the efficacy of …

Research Brief: "Prospectively Assessed Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder And Associated Physical Activity", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This brief is about the connection between physical activity and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder in veterans. In policy and practice, service members who experienced combat should have high levels of physical activity in order to reduce the possibility of developing PTSD, clinicians should mention the importance of physical activity for mental health to service members, as well as recommend alternatives for veterans who are unable to do high levels of physical activity. The VA should implement and promote fitness programs for service members and veterans to lower the possibility of developing PTSD, and policymakers should fund physical activity programs …

Research Brief: "Predictors Of Psychiatric Disorders In Combat Veterans", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This brief is about the predictors of mental health diagnoses within a sample of Marines who experienced combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. In policy and practice, support networks should be implemented for servicemembers to share with their peers, clinicians should give female servicemembers and others who have a higher likelihood of developing a mental health disorder after combat information on how to prevent certain psychiatric disorders, and families should know the signs of psychiatric disorders to help servicemembers in their re-adjustment period after deployment. Military branches and policymakers could improve counseling for servicemembers returning from combat and encourage servicemembers to …

Research Brief: "Mental Health Diagnosis And Occupational Functioning In National Guard/Reserve Veterans Returning From Iraq", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This brief is about the employment or enrollment in school of recently returned National Guard and Reserve OIF/OEF veterans who have a mental health diagnosis compared to those veterans without a mental health diagnosis. In policy and practice, the US military should implement pre- to post-deployment programs to help adjustment into work/school role functioning, and policymakers should partner with universities to help veterans cope with academic stress. Suggestions for future research include using a larger and more comprehensive sample of National Guard/Reserve OIF veterans and studying the effectiveness of programs and support for veterans.

Research Brief: "Employment Status Of Veterans Receiving Substance Abuse Treatment From The U.S. Department Of Veterans Affairs", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This study investigates how the severity of PTSD symptoms relates to employment and earnings, it found that Veterans with more severe symptoms of PTSD, were more likely to work part-time or not at all rather than have full time work. In practice, treating PTSD, even if some symptoms remain, could result in better employment outcomes for veterans. In policy, Policy makers should consider providing previously successful programs for veterans with PTSD for individuals with other mental health conditions. Suggestions for future research include A large, controlled, longitudinal survey would allow researchers to investigate more thoroughly how PTSD symptoms relate to …

Research Brief: "Prevalence Of Childhood Trauma Among U.S. Army Soldiers With Suicidal Behavior", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This brief is about the link between childhood trauma and servicemember suicide risk within the US Army. In policy and practice, communities should be willing to discuss abuse with servicemembers who experienced childhood trauma, healthcare providers should tell veterans and servicemembers about their treatment options, and family members should assist with the mental health treatment of veterans and servicemembers. Policymakers should create programs that encourage social networks and increase the number of veteran and military support groups. Suggestions for future research include using a different data source for the study, adding a control group, and broadening the sample of veterans …

Research Brief: "Weight Change Following U.S. Military Service", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This brief is about weight change among veterans before, during, and after discharge from the military. In policy and practice, physicians should discuss strategies to prevent unhealthy weight gain with veteran patients; the VA should better tailor its MOVE! weight management program to younger veterans. Suggestions for future research include looking at the reasons behind weight gain in discharged servicemembers, analyzing the strategies used by members of the Reserve/National Guard to limit weight gain, and using more samples of younger veterans to generalize results.

Research Brief: "Supporting The Education Goals Of Post-9/11 Veterans With Self-Reported Ptsd Symptoms: A Needs Assessment", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This research undertook a needs assessment for educational support among post-9/11 service veterans with self-reported PTSD symptoms, and found a need for age relevant services that assist with: education planning and access, counseling for the G.I. Bill, accommodations for PTSD symptoms, and more. Administrators should work to ensure that educational services are customized to meet individual needs of student veterans, as well as policies that ensure veterans have access to peer mentors in their age group. This can provide social opportunities and support from veterans who have successfully transitioned from active duty to civilian life. Future research should include more …

Research Brief: "Suicide Among Patients In The Veterans Affairs Health System: Rural-Urban Differences In Rates, Risks, And Methods", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This brief is about the differences between rural and urban veterans in risks and rates for suicide. In policy and practice, communities should implement support programs for rural veterans, and veteran families should educate themselves about the risk factors for suicide and support veterans in their families; policymakers should increase VA outreach programs in rural areas, as well as programs educating rural veterans about the importance of mental health treatment for those at risk for suicide. Suggestions for future research include looking at the impact of social context on suicide rates, determining the relationship between suicide risk for rural veterans …

Research Brief: "Anxiety, Social Support, And Physical Health In A Sample Of Spouses Of Oef/Oif Service Members", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This study focused on anxiety disorders in military spouses and their comorbidity with physical health, identifying the potential for such a comorbidity to worsen over time. The study suggests the importance of recognizing, identifying, and supporting these members of the community. The future research proposed includes objectively measuring this study's outcomes, examining ALL of the military branches, and ways of treating these situations of anxiety disorders.

Research Brief: "Evaluation Of A Family-Centered Prevention Intervention For Military Children And Families Facing Wartime Deployment", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

The purpose of this study was to explore the benefits of the Families Over Coming Under Stress (FOCUS) project for families experiencing deployment. These benefits included education and skills training, with an emphasis on minimizing psychological and emotional distress for the service-people, their spouses, and their children. While this study analyzed families who were a part of the FOCUS group, future research would best serve to include an additional control group, which would allow for comparison between families in FOCUS and families not currently enrolled.

Research Brief: "Transitions In Dual Care For Veterans: Non-Federal Physician Perspectives", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This brief is about non-federal physicians' perspectives on the organization and delivery of dual care for veterans. In policy and practice, patients should tell non-VHA physicians when VHA physicians change the patients' medications, and veterans should keep track of their health records, appointments, tests, treatments, and medications to support communication between dual care physicians; non-VHA and VHA physicians should improve communication between each other and adopt Electronic Medical Records. Suggestions for future research include improving survey response rates, using electronic surveys, carefully constructing the survey questions, and looking at the availability and compatibility of Electronic Medical Records between VHA and …

Research Brief: "Partnering With Communities To Address The Mental Health Needs Of Rural Veterans", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This research focuses on veterans in rural communities who have less access to mental health providers. The Yellow Ribbon Task Force program promoted and encouraged engagement in mental health care for veterans in rural communities, although future policies should enhance already existing clinical practices to increase standards for care. For further study, researchers should focus on evaluating initial program implementation and pilot testing in a variety of states and rural populations.

Research Brief: "A Randomized Controlled Trial Of Supported Employment Among Veterans With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This brief focuses on some analyses of veterans with PTSD concerning supported employment programs, the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) program, and the evidence-based IPS program. This study's results showed IPS programs to be almost three times more effective than the traditional VRP, and they have a significant impact on employment outcomes for veterans with mental health diagnoses. Suggestions for future research include using a diverse, national sample of veterans to examine the success of the VRP program with different criteria.

Research Brief: "Battlefield Compassion And Post-Traumatic Growth In Combat Servicepersons", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This brief is about the compassionate acts that come out of post-traumatic growth among veterans after serving. For policy and practice, the research shows that military values, bonding experiences, and maturation through military service allows for positive personal growth and that the VA should provide programs for discussing this growth. Suggestions for future research include taking into account variations in specific experiences when analyzing post-traumatic growth and including a representative random sample.

Research Brief: "A Prospective Study Of Ptsd And Early-Age Heart Disease Mortality Among Vietnam Veterans: Implications For Surveillance And Prevention", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This brief is a summary of PTSD being prospectively associated with HD mortality among veterans free of HD at baseline.

Ua35/8 The Topper, Vol. 21, Issue 1, Wku Veterans Upward Bound

WKU Administration Documents

Newsletter published by WKU Veterans Upward Bound includes articles and calendar of events.