Citation

Fischer IC, Tsai J, Harpaz-Rotem I, McCutcheon VE, Schulenberg SE, Pietrzak RH. Am. J. Geriatr. Psychiatry 2022; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jagp.2022.09.010

PMID

36253289

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.

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.

RESULTS: Most veterans endorsed average PIL (71.7%), while 16.0% endorsed low PIL and 12.4% endorsed high PIL. A "dose-response" 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.

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.

Language: en