title: Disability correlates in Canadian Armed Forces Regular Force Veterans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was undertaken to inform disability mitigation for military veterans by identifying personal, environmental, and health factors associated with activity limitations.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 3154 Canadian Armed Forces Regular Force Veterans who were released during 1998-2007 participated in the 2010 Survey on Transition to Civilian Life. Associations between personal and environmental factors, health conditions and activity limitations were explored using ordinal logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of activity reduction in life domains was higher than the Canadian general population (49% versus 21%), as was needing assistance with at least one activity of daily living (17% versus 5%). Prior to adjusting for health conditions, disability odds were elevated for increased age, females, non-degree post-secondary graduation, low income, junior non-commissioned members, deployment, low social support, low mastery, high life stress, and weak sense of community belonging. Reduced odds were found for private/recruit ranks. Disability odds were highest for chronic pain (10.9), any mental health condition (2.7), and musculoskeletal conditions (2.6), and there was a synergistic additive effect of physical and mental health co-occurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Disability, measured as activity limitation, was associated with a range of personal and environmental factors and health conditions, indicating multifactorial and multidisciplinary approaches to disability mitigation.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Canada , Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island , Canada .
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pranger
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sweet
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: VanTil
authors.forename: Mary Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: McColl
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Besemann
authors.forename: Colleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shubaly
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pedlar
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D014728:Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D058014:Veterans Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Activity limitations; disability; mental health; physical health; veterans