Physical and mental health consequences of war-related stressors in older adulthood: An analysis of posttraumatic stress disorder and arthritis in northern Vietnamese war survivors
Publication Type
Journal Article
Publication Date
10-2017
Abstract
Objectives: We examine the impacts of trauma exposures and family stressors associated with the Vietnam War on musculoskeletal health and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) outcomes in elderly Vietnamese who were widely impacted by the war as young adults. Noting that wars’ impacts extend beyond male veterans in most survivor populations, we give attention to male and female war survivors placed in a variety of roles vis-a-vis the war. Method: Utilizing data from the 2010 Vietnam Health and Aging Pilot Study (N = 405), we use logistic and Poisson regression models to estimate the effect of wartime trauma exposures and family stressors on disabling arthritis and PTSD symptoms in male and female northern Vietnamese adults aged 55 and older. Results: The odds of experiencing recent PTSD symptoms are greater in respondents who report involvement in killing/causing severe injury and who observed war atrocities. In women, PTSD is positively correlated with war era child death and spousal separation. Arthritis also exhibits a significant, positive association with killing/causing severe injury. Discussion: Our study provides insights into the burden of conflict upon health among populations of the global south that survived war and are now entering older adulthood. The pattern of results, indicating greatest suffering among those who inflicted or failed to prevent bodily harm or loss of life, is consistent with the concept of moral injury.
Keywords
Arthritis, Burden of conflict, Depression, Disability, Medical sociology, Posttraumatic stress disorder, Veteran, Vietnam War
Discipline
Asian Studies | Gerontology
Research Areas
Sociology
Publication
Journals of Gerontology: Series B
Volume
72
Issue
6
First Page
1090
Last Page
1102
ISSN
1079-5014
Identifier
10.1093/geronb/gbv157
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP): Policy B - Oxford Open Option D
Citation
KORINEK, Kim, LOEBACH, Peter, & Bussarawan Puk TEERAWICHITCHAINAN, .(2017). Physical and mental health consequences of war-related stressors in older adulthood: An analysis of posttraumatic stress disorder and arthritis in northern Vietnamese war survivors. Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 72(6), 1090-1102.
Available at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/1947
Additional URL
https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbv157