@article{ref1,
title="Self-reported auditory problems are associated with adverse mental health outcomes and alcohol misuse in the UK Armed Forces",
journal="Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology",
year="2021",
author="Parker, Fred N. H. and Fear, Nicola T. and Stevelink, S. A. M. and Rafferty, L.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="PURPOSE: Auditory problems, such as hearing loss and tinnitus, have been associated with mental health problems and alcohol misuse in the UK general population and in the US Armed Forces; however, few studies have examined these associations within the UK Armed Forces. The present study examined the association between auditory problems and probable common mental disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and alcohol misuse. <br><br>METHODS: 5474 serving and ex-service personnel from the UK Armed Forces were examined, selected from those who responded to phase two (data collection 2007-09) and phase three (2014-16) of a military cohort study. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the association between auditory problems at phase two and mental health problems at phase three. <br><br>RESULTS: 9.7% of participants reported ever experiencing hearing problems alone, 7.9% reported tinnitus within the last month alone, and 7.8% reported hearing problems with tinnitus. After adjustment, hearing problems with tinnitus at phase two was associated with increased odds of probable common mental disorders (AOR = 1.50, 95% CI 1.09-2.08), post-traumatic stress disorder (AOR = 2.30, 95% CI 1.41-3.76), and alcohol misuse (AOR = 1.94, 95% CI 1.28-2.96) at phase three. Tinnitus alone was associated with probable post-traumatic stress disorder (AOR = 1.80, 95% CI 1.03-3.15); however, hearing problems alone were not associated with any outcomes of interest. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The association between auditory problems and mental health problems emphasises the importance of the prevention of auditory problems in the Armed Forces: through enhanced audiometric screening, improved hearing protection equipment, and greater levels of utilisation of such equipment.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0933-7954",
doi="10.1007/s00127-021-02169-8",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00127-021-02169-8"
}