Association of problematic anger with long-term adjustment following the military-to-civilian transition

Adler, A. B., LeardMann, C. A., Villalobos, J., Jacobson, I. G., & Forbes, D. (2022). Association of problematic anger with long-term adjustment following the military-to-civilian transition. JAMA Network Open, 5(7), Article e2223236. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.23236

This study examined the prevalence of problematic anger (i.e., increased distress and decreased functioning) in 3,448 Service members during their transition out of the military using 2 waves of data. Participants separated from the military within 2 years before or after the baseline assessment (i.e., Time 1 [T1]) and provided data at a 5-year follow up (i.e., Time 2 [T2]). At T1, Service members/Veterans reported their anger reactions as well as their demographic (e.g., race) and military characteristics (e.g., rank, branch). At T2, they reported their mental health (e.g., depression, posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD]), relationship health (i.e., relationship quality, coping with parental demands, and social support), and economic difficulties (e.g., employment status). Overall, those with problematic anger at T1 had a greater likelihood of experiencing mental health, relational, and economic difficulties at T2.

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