Depression, anxiety, and stress in partners of Australian combat veterans and military personnel: a comparison with Australian population norms.

Partners of Australian combat veterans are at an increased risk of experiencing mental health problems. The present study provides a comparative analysis of the mental health of partners of veterans with that of the Australian normative data. To compare different types of groups of partners, the study samples comprised: (a) partners of Australian combat veterans (Sample 1: n = 282, age M = 60.79, SD = 5.05), (b) a sub-sample of partners of Australian combat veterans from the previous sample (Sample 2: n = 50; M = 60.06, SD = 4.80), (c) partners of Special Air Services Regiment (SASR) personnel (Sample 3: n = 40, age M = 34.39SD = 7.01), and (d) partners of current serving military (non-SASR) personnel (Sample 4: n = 38, age M = 32.37, SD = 6.20). Respondents completed measures assessing their reported levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. Samples 1 and 2 comprised partners of Australian military veterans who reported significantly greater symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress than the comparative population norms. The sample of SASR personnel partners (Sample 3) reported significantly lower levels of depression and anxiety, whereas the sample with non-SASR personnel partners (Sample 4) reported a significantly greater stress symptomatology than the comparative norms. Number of deployments was found to be associated with depression, anxiety, and stress in partners of non-SASR veterans (Sample 4). Lessons and protective factors can be learnt from groups within the current military as to what may assist partners and families to maintain a better level of psychosocial health.

Effects on smokers of exposure to graphic warning images.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Several countries have introduced graphic warning images aimed at discouraging smoking. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact on smokers of graphic warnings showing cosmetically important harm caused by smoking. METHODS: Fifty-six adult smokers were randomly assigned to view either written smoking warnings or the same written warnings with related graphic images. The smokers viewed the warnings at a rate of one per week for 4 weeks. The smokers were assessed before and after the warnings with regard to stage of change toward smoking cessation and level of smoking. RESULTS: The randomized control trial showed that the warnings with graphic images led to significantly more progress in stage of change toward smoking cessation than written warnings alone. However, the images did not lead to decreases in smoking rates. CONCLUSIONS AND SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: The results indicate that written smoking warnings accompanied by images of cosmetically important harm caused by smoking have more potential than warnings alone in prompting changes in the direction of quitting.

Development and psychometric evaluation of a measure to assess distress in partners of Australian combat veterans.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to develop and evaluate a multidimensional measure of distress experienced by partners of Australian combat veterans. METHOD: The Partners of Veterans Distress Scale (POV-DS) was developed using factor analysis on a sample of 665 female members of Partners of Veterans Association of Australia. Content validity for the scale was established by using focus groups and expert feedback during item development phase. In addition, two self-report inventories were administered to assess physical/mental health, and satisfaction with life. RESULTS: Following principal-axis factoring, 45 items were retained, loading on seven distinct but correlated factors: Sleep problems, Hyper-vigilance, Social isolation, Financial problems, Intimacy problems, Exhaustion, and Negative affect. The factor structure was cross-validated using confirmatory factor analysis on a hold-out sample. The distress subscales all exhibited excellent internal consistency (alphas ranged from 0.84 to 0.95). Validation analyses revealed subscales derived from the seven-factor model explained 31% to 45% of the variance in partners' physical health, mental health, and satisfaction with life. CONCLUSIONS: The study found that the POV-DS is a reliable and valid tool for assessing distress in partners of Australian combat veterans.