Factors Associated With Civilian Employment, Work Satisfaction, and Performance Among National Guard Members.
OBJECTIVE
Employment is a vital part of the postdeployment return to civilian life. This study investigated factors associated with employment-related outcomes (employment status, self-reported work performance, and self-reported work satisfaction) among National Guard members returning from Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, or Operation New Dawn deployments.


METHODS
The sample consisted of 1,151 National Guard service members who had returned from overseas deployments approximately six months earlier. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were performed to examine associations between predictors and employment-related outcome variables.


RESULTS
Higher-risk alcohol use was associated with reduced odds of being employed as well as with lower ratings of work satisfaction, whereas psychiatric symptom load was associated with lower self-reported work performance and work satisfaction ratings. Perceived social resources were associated with higher self-reported work performance and work satisfaction, whereas better physical functioning was associated with better self-reported work performance.


CONCLUSIONS
Policy makers and clinicians may need to consider and assess alcohol use among unemployed National Guard members. They may also need to consider psychiatric symptom load and physical functioning among employed service members who perceive poor work performance and have low work satisfaction. Further research is needed on causal links between these predictors and employment outcomes.
Dr. Nelson is with the Division of Mental Health Services, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan. He is also with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor (e-mail: claytonn@med.umich.edu ), where Dr. Zivin and Dr. Valenstein are affiliated. Dr. Zivin and Dr. Valenstein are also with the Center for Clinical Management Research, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Ann Arbor, where Ms. Walters and Ms. Ganoczy are affiliated. Dr. MacDermid Wadsworth is with the Center for Families and the Military Family Research Institute, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana.
C Beau
CB
Nelson
Dr. Nelson is with the Division of Mental Health Services, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan. He is also with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor (e-mail: claytonn@med.umich.edu ), where Dr. Zivin and Dr. Valenstein are affiliated. Dr. Zivin and Dr. Valenstein are also with the Center for Clinical Management Research, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Ann Arbor, where Ms. Walters and Ms. Ganoczy are affiliated. Dr. MacDermid Wadsworth is with the Center for Families and the Military Family Research Institute, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana.
Kara
K
Zivin
Dr. Nelson is with the Division of Mental Health Services, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan. He is also with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor (e-mail: claytonn@med.umich.edu ), where Dr. Zivin and Dr. Valenstein are affiliated. Dr. Zivin and Dr. Valenstein are also with the Center for Clinical Management Research, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Ann Arbor, where Ms. Walters and Ms. Ganoczy are affiliated. Dr. MacDermid Wadsworth is with the Center for Families and the Military Family Research Institute, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana.
Heather
H
Walters
Dr. Nelson is with the Division of Mental Health Services, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan. He is also with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor (e-mail: claytonn@med.umich.edu ), where Dr. Zivin and Dr. Valenstein are affiliated. Dr. Zivin and Dr. Valenstein are also with the Center for Clinical Management Research, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Ann Arbor, where Ms. Walters and Ms. Ganoczy are affiliated. Dr. MacDermid Wadsworth is with the Center for Families and the Military Family Research Institute, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana.
Dara
D
Ganoczy
Dr. Nelson is with the Division of Mental Health Services, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan. He is also with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor (e-mail: claytonn@med.umich.edu ), where Dr. Zivin and Dr. Valenstein are affiliated. Dr. Zivin and Dr. Valenstein are also with the Center for Clinical Management Research, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Ann Arbor, where Ms. Walters and Ms. Ganoczy are affiliated. Dr. MacDermid Wadsworth is with the Center for Families and the Military Family Research Institute, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana.
Shelley
S
MacDermid Wadsworth
Dr. Nelson is with the Division of Mental Health Services, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan. He is also with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor (e-mail: claytonn@med.umich.edu ), where Dr. Zivin and Dr. Valenstein are affiliated. Dr. Zivin and Dr. Valenstein are also with the Center for Clinical Management Research, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Ann Arbor, where Ms. Walters and Ms. Ganoczy are affiliated. Dr. MacDermid Wadsworth is with the Center for Families and the Military Family Research Institute, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana.
Marcia
M
Valenstein
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000066477:Work Performance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult