A longitudinal analysis of Veteran well-being using the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging

Understanding well-being trajectories in Canada's aging Veteran population is critical, as most research is cross-sectional, U.S.-centric, and male-focused. Comparing Canadian male and female Veterans to non-Veterans over eight years, this study longitudinally assessed social integration and life satisfaction in relation to depression.

Data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) (N = 51,338; 3,215 Veterans) across three time points (2011, 2015, 2018) were analyzed. A multi-group cross-lagged panel model (CLPM) was applied using structural equation modelling (SEM) after establishing measurement invariance.

The overall model structure was invariant between male and female Veterans, suggesting a shared psychosocial architecture shaped by military service. Significant variance emerged when comparing Veterans to same-sex civilians. For female Veterans, life satisfaction rather than social integration was the primary protective factor against depression, a pathway distinct from non-Veteran females. For male Veterans, the relationship between social integration and depression was complex and shifted over time, a dynamic not observed in their civilian counterparts.

This study addresses a key gap by longitudinally including both male and female Veterans. Longitudinal analyses suggest well-being trajectories differ between Veterans and non-Veterans, highlighting Veteran status as salient in aging models. The protective role of social integration appears less direct for female Veterans, while for male Veterans, its interplay with depression is more dynamic. This heterogeneity demonstrates that military service has lasting, sex-specific effects on well-being, rendering generalized models of aging insufficient for the military community and underscoring the critical need for tailored support for Canada's aging Veterans.