Factors associated with well-being among treatment-seeking UK Veterans: A cross-sectional study

Comorbidity is the norm, rather than the exception, among UK treatment-seeking armed forces Veterans, who face a greater risk of experiencing mental health difficulties than the general UK population. Veterans may also experience poor overall well-being across various domains, including work-related challenges, loneliness, and instability in relationships. This study aimed to explore associations between mental ill health and mental well-being to add to the literature on the complexity of functioning and mental health presentations in clinical Veteran samples.

A total of 428 UK Armed Forces Veterans (mean age 50.5 [SD 10.9] y) who received treatment for mental health difficulties at a UK Veteran mental health charity completed a survey that collected responses on the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale measure of mental well-being, as well as a range of mental health and functioning outcomes.

Linear regression analysis revealed that well-being was significantly negatively associated with symptoms of anxiety and depression, symptoms of physical health difficulties, possible problems with anger, moral injury, and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD. Functioning outcomes related to well-being were alcohol misuse, sleep problems, and loneliness. Alcohol misuse, sleep problems, and symptoms of loneliness were associated with lower well-being scores.

Implications of this pattern of relationships are discussed, including the potential benefits of a transdiagnostic and sub-clinical outcome measure for interventions targeting mental ill health, as well as positive mental health, among Veterans.