Pre-military abuse, mental health, and hazardous alcohol use among military personnel

The present study examined whether pre-military sexual and physical abuse and negative mental health symptoms prior to military service contributed to hazardous alcohol use (i.e., alcohol-related consequences, dependency symptoms, and consumption) controlling for combat exposure. Participants were a community sample of 506 (183 women) active duty, National Guard/reservists, and veterans who completed an online survey assessing pre-military abuse, pre-military mental health symptoms, combat exposure, and hazardous drinking. Results using structural equation modeling showed that while controlling for gender and combat exposure, pre-military sexual abuse was associated with higher negative mental health symptoms prior to joining the military, which in turn was associated with higher reports of current alcohol consumption. Our findings suggest that hazardous alcohol use may not be strictly related to experiences on the battlefield and that mental health prior to military enlistment may be associated with later alcohol consumption. Limitations and future directions are discussed.