Transgender Older Adults' Prior Military Service: Mental Health Differences by Gender Identification

Despite a proportionally higher likelihood of serving, the role of prior military service in the mental health of transgender individuals is understudied. Research on the impact of military service on mental health tends to be proximal. We examined the distal relationship between prior military service, identity stigma, and mental health among transgender older adults, drawing comparisons between transgender men and women. We conducted a series of weighted multivariate linear models to predict the relationships between prior military service, identity stigma, perceived stress, and depression among 183 transgender women and men aged 51-87 (M = 60.11, SD = 0.668) using 2014 data from the National Health, Aging, and Sexuality/Gender Study. Prior military service was negatively associated with depression and perceived stress; identity stigma was positively associated with both. Prior military service and lower depression and perceived stress were significant for transgender men, but not women. Identity stigma was significant with depression and perceived stress among transgender women, but not transgender men. Our preliminary findings suggest that prior military service may serve as a protective factor for mental health among transgender men, but not transgender women. We need to better understand how military experience interacts with other characteristics, such as differing gender identities influences the mental health of transgender service members. Further research is needed to inform underlying mechanisms whereby military service differentially impacts mental health by gender identity so all active-duty personnel can share in the many benefits that accrue from military service, including protective effects on mental health in later life.