Project team: McBride, D., Cox, B., Wyeth, E., Derrett, S., Richardson, A., Gardner, D., Shepherd, D., Samaranayaka, A., deGraaf, B.

IPRU contact: David McBride

Funding: Veterans’ Health Advisory Panel Research Grant and Lottery Health Research Grant

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to identify factors associated with health and wellbeing in New Zealand veterans, with a focus on outcomes of post-traumatic stress, multi-symptom illness, and overall health status. All currently serving and retired military personnel were invited to complete an online or postal questionnaire. The study was advertised through the New Zealand Defence Force and at 43 local social clubs of the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services Association. Announcements about the study were also made on military social media pages and the No Duff Charitable Trust website. A total of 1817 military personnel completed the questionnaire. Analysis of participant responses is currently underway.

Publications:

Richardson, A., Gurung, G., Samaranayaka, A., Gardner, D., de Graaf, B., Wyeth, E. H., Derrett, S., … McBride, D. (2020). Risk and protective factors for post-traumatic stress among New Zealand military personnel: A cross sectional study. PLoS ONE, 15(4), e0231460.