title: Health-related quality of life of Canadian Forces veterans after transition to civilian life.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Describe health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of former Canadian Forces (CF) men and women in uniform (Veterans) after transition to civilian life, and compare to age- and sex-adjusted Canadian norms.
  
  
  METHODS
  The 2010 Survey on Transition to Civilian Life was a national computer-assisted telephone survey of CF Regular Force personnel who released during 1998-2007. HRQoL was assessed using the SF-12 Physical (PCS) and Mental (MCS) Component Summary scores. Descriptive analysis of HRQoL was conducted for socio-demographic, health, disability and determinants of health characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age was 46 years (range 20-67). Compared to age- and sex-adjusted Canadian averages, PCS (47.3) was low and MCS was similar (52.0). PCS and MCS were variably below average for middle age groups and lowest for non-commissioned ranks, widowed/divorced/separated, 10-19 years of service, physical and mental health conditions, disability, dissatisfaction with finances, seeking work/not working, low social support and difficulty adjusting to civilian life. Among Veterans Affairs Canada clients, 83% had below-average physical PCS, 49% had below-average MCS, and mean PCS (38.2) was significantly lower than mean MCS (48.3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HRQoL varied across a range of biopsychosocial factors, suggesting possible protective factors and vulnerable subgroups that may benefit from targeted interventions. These findings will be of interest to agencies supporting Veterans in transition to civilian life and to researchers developing hypotheses to better understand well-being in Canadian Veterans.
authors.affiliation: Research Directorate, Veterans Affairs Canada, Charlottetown, PE. jim.thompson@vac-acc.gc.ca
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Wilma
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hopman
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sweet
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: VanTil
authors.forename: Mary Beth
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: MacLean
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: VanDenKerkhof
authors.forename: Kerry
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sudom
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Poirier
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pedlar
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002170:Canada; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D058014:Veterans Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: SF-12; Veterans; chronic disease; health-related quality of life; mental health; veterans health