@article{ref1,
title="Perceived purpose in life, mental health, and suicidality in older U.S. military veterans: results from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study",
journal="American journal of geriatric psychiatry",
year="2022",
author="Fischer, Ian C. and Tsai, Jack and Harpaz-Rotem, Ilan and McCutcheon, Victoria E. and Schulenberg, Stefan E. and Pietrzak, Robert H.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: To determine the current prevalence of perceived purpose in life (PIL) and its association with screening positive for mental disorders and suicidality in a nationally representative sample of predominantly older U.S. veterans. <br><br>METHODS: Data were analyzed from the 2019-2020 National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study (N = 4,069; M(age) = 62.2). Veterans were classified into three groups based on perceived PIL level (i.e., low, average, and high). Self-report assessments were administered to screen for mental disorders and suicidality. <br><br>RESULTS: Most veterans endorsed average PIL (71.7%), while 16.0% endorsed low PIL and 12.4% endorsed high PIL. A &quot;dose-response&quot; association was observed between PIL and outcomes. High PIL was associated with 42%-94% reduced odds of screening positive for major depressive, generalized anxiety, posttraumatic stress, and substance use disorders, as well as suicide attempts, ideation, and future intent. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Higher PIL is associated with lower odds of mental disorders and suicidality in U.S. veterans, underscoring the potential importance of interventions to bolster PIL in this population.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1064-7481",
doi="10.1016/j.jagp.2022.09.010",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jagp.2022.09.010"
}