Veteran Status Research Articles

Abstract 5776: Factors associated with low-dose CT lung cancer screening adherence in a high burden state

Abstract Background: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. The burden of lung cancer varies substantially by region and state, primarily due to historical differences in the prevalence of cigarette smoking. As of 2013, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends lung cancer screening (LCS) with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) for those meeting eligibility criteria. Given the recency of this recommendation, studies regarding eligibility and participation are sparse. Identifying screening participation rates and subpopulations with lower participation is an essential first step for planning targeted interventions. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine LCS eligibility, utilization, and factors associated with self-reported adherence in Oklahoma, a state with a high smoking prevalence rate and low lung cancer survival rate. Methods: Starting in 2017, CDC released an optional Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) module for LCS. Data from 596 LDCT eligible participants from the 2017 and 2018 Oklahoma BRFSS surveys were used for this study. This analysis was restricted to data from individuals eligible for screening based on USPSTF guidelines. Univariate analyses using Rao-Scott Chi-square tests were performed to test for differences in the characteristics of those screened and not screened. Weighted logistic regression models were conducted to examine the importance of independent variables in odds of LCS services. Results: Approximately 5.0% of Oklahomans were eligible for LCS. Only 11.31% (95% CI: 8.02, 14.60) of eligible Oklahomans reported participating in LCS. Asthma diagnosis (p=0.0327), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) diagnosis (p<0.0001), and general health status (p=0.0141) were all significantly associated with screening participation; however, urban/rural status (p=0.091), insurance status (p=0.9272), veteran status (p=0.2508), multiple chronic conditions (p=0.0624), and current smoking status (p=0.5099) were not. After adjusting for age, socio-economic factors (income, education, race), asthma status and general health status, the odds of participating in LCS was higher (OR=2.85; 95% CI: 1.40, 5.76; p=0.0037) among those with COPD compared to those without COPD. After the same adjustments the odds of LCS, specifically for males, was even greater among individuals with COPD (OR= 5.86; 95% CI: 2.36, 14.57; p=0.0002) than those without COPD; however, this relationship was not true for females (OR= 0.75; 95% CI: 0.27, 2.08; p=0.5744). Conclusion: Despite the known benefits of LCS, utilization remains suboptimal among individuals in a high-risk state. State estimates and identification of factors associated with LCS adherence may help inform LCS interventions. Citation Format: Ami E. Sedani, Lance Ford, Laura Beebe. Factors associated with low-dose CT lung cancer screening adherence in a high burden state [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 5776.

PANEL & ROUNDTABLE: Creating Community: Strategies for Equity and Inclusion in the Classroom (90 mins)

A large body of research on inclusive pedagogies shows that learning outcomes for students are improved when all students feel visible, valued, safe, and welcomed in the classroom. As a minority majority institution, Mason has a very diverse student body--race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexuality, age, religion, ability status, veteran status, first generation, non-native speakers, immigration status, etc. However, Mason faculty is not as diverse. In this session we will discuss inclusive values and strategies that you can use to support your students' learning.

Finding your affinity group

It’s not surprising that people enjoy spending time with others who share a common interest or background. Often, these groups are formalized into affinity groups, or employee resource groups when formed through an institution. These types of groups have historically been formed by underrepresented populations, but can be formed based on almost anything, including sexual identity, ethnicity, age, veteran status, disability status, hobbies, and so on. Their goals are to share experiences, mentorship, and solutions, and not to exclude anyone. In fact, many affinity groups welcome people from all walks of life who have a sincere interest in learning about and supporting their goals. As more and more people are working remotely now, affinity groups can provide a way to meet and connect with others. Is an affinity group right for you? You can learn from your peers. Affinity groups can be a great way to meet people who have

Co-occurrence of diabetes and depression in the U.S.

Evidence exists that depression interacts with physical illness to amplify the impact of chronic conditions like diabetes. The co-occurrence of these two conditions leads to worse health outcomes and higher healthcare costs. This study seeks to understand what demographic and socio-economic indicators can be used to predict co-occurrence at both the state and the individual level. Diabetes and depression are modeled as a bivariate normal distribution using data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 2016-2017 cohorts. The tetrachoric (latent) correlation between diabetes and depression is 17.2% and statistically significant, however the likelihood of any person being diagnosed with both conditions is small-as high as 4.3% (Arizona) and as low as 2.3% (Utah). We find that demographic characteristics (sex, age, and race) operate in opposite directions in predicting diabetes and depression diagnosis. Behavioral indicators (BMI≥30, smoking, and exercise); and life outcomes, (schooling attainment, marital and veteran status) work in the same direction to produce co-occurrence and as such are more powerful predictors of co-occurrence than demographic characteristics. It is important to have a rapid and efficient instrument to diagnoses co-occurrence. Simple questions about lifestyle choices, educational attainment and family life could help bridge the gap between primary care and psychological services with beneficial spillovers for patient-doctor communication.

Associations between neighborhood-level factors and opioid-related mortality: A multi-level analysis using death certificate data.

To identify associations between opioid-related mortality and neighborhood-level risk factors. Cross-sectional study. Massachusetts, USA. Using 2011-14 Massachusetts death certificate data, we identified opioid-related (n=3089) and non-opioid-related premature deaths (n=8729). The independent variables consisted of four sets of neighborhood-level factors: (1) psychosocial, (2) economic, (3) built environment and (4) health-related. At the individual level we included the following compositional factors: age at death, sex, race/ethnicity, marital status, education, veteran status and nativity. The primary outcome of interest was opioid-related mortality. Multi-level models identified number of social associations per 10 000 [odds ratio (OR)=0.84, P=0.002, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.75-0.94] and number of hospital beds per 10 000 (OR=0.78, P<0.001, 95% CI=0.68-0.88) to be inversely associated with opioid-related mortality, whereas the percentage living in poverty (OR=1.01, P=0.008, 95% CI=1.00-1.01), food insecurity rate (OR=1.21, P=0.002, 95% CI=1.07-1.37), number of federally qualified health centers (OR=1.02, P=0.028, 95% CI=1.02-1.08) and per-capita morphine milligram equivalents of hydromorphone (OR=1.05, P=0.003, 95% CI=1.01-1.08) were positively associated with opioid-related mortality. Opioid-related deaths between 2011 and 2014 in the state of Massachusetts appear to be positively associated with the percentage living in poverty, food insecurity rate, number of federally qualified health centers and per-capita morphine milligram equivalents of hydromorphone, but inversely associated with number of social associations per 10 000 and number of hospital beds per 10 000.

0810 Sleep Disturbances In Returning Veterans That Are Homeless And Combat-exposed

Abstract Introduction Challenges with sleep (i.e., nightmares and insomnia) impact military service members both during and following deployment, but may occur more frequently in combat-exposed individuals. In addition, among the challenges faced following the transition from active duty to Veteran status are periods of homelessness, which may further contribute to sleep disturbances. Methods The present analyses utilized data from the Survey of Experiences of Returning Veterans, a national survey of recently returning combat Veterans focused on the examination of sex differences following exposure to traumatic events. The sample (n = 793) consisted of 58% males; females were oversampled and all branches were represented. Ordinal and multiple linear regressions were used to investigate the role of combat exposure and homelessness in predicting nightmare distress and insomnia severity. Results An ordinal regression found that combat exposure (b = -.02, p &amp;lt;0.001), homelessness (b = -.31, p = 0.010), and insomnia severity (b = -.10, p &amp;lt;0.001) each significantly predicted nightmare distress. These variables increased risk (SAS parameterizes these models so that negative coefficients are associated with increased risk). Demographic variables were not significantly related to nightmare distress. Similarly, combat exposure (β = .100, p = .002) was associated with insomnia severity, as was nightmare distress (β = .522, p &amp;lt; .001). The moderational role of gender and homeless in the above models are also tested. Conclusion For those who have been combat exposed, have a history of homelessness, and report insomnia symptoms there is an increased odds of reporting nightmare distress, sleep disturbance is even more likely to occur. Although combat exposure and nightmare distress were predictive of insomnia severity, history of homelessness was not. These findings suggest that nightmare distress and insomnia symptoms are a significant concern in our returning combat-exposed Veterans, with nightmares being even more problematic for those at risk of homelessness. Support This study was funded by VHA CSR&amp;D grant ZDA-01. Dr. Speed is supported, in part, by the VA Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Health Illness Research and Treatment, the VISN 2 Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention at the Canandaigua VAMC.

Evaluating for Differences by Race/Ethnicity in the Association Between Income and Gambling Disorder

Multiple studies show an increased prevalence of gambling disorder among African Americans compared to whites. However, few studies take an analytic approach to understanding differences in risk factors by race/ethnicity. Income is inversely associated with gambling disorder; we hypothesized that this association would vary by race/ethnicity. The main objective was to evaluate whether the association between income and gambling disorder varies by race/ethnicity. With data from the baseline visit of a prospective cohort study, Prevention and Etiology of Gambling Addiction Study in the United States, we used multivariable logistic regression analysis to determine whether the association between income and gambling disorder varies by race/ethnicity. 1164 participants were included in the final analyses. Measures included: demographics (age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, employment, annual household income), veteran status, marital status, homelessness, smoking, substance abuse, alcohol abuse, marijuana use, and lifetime gambling disorder diagnosis as derived from Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule. There was no evidence of effect modification by race/ethnicity in the association between income and gambling disorder (global p value = 0.17). Income was associated with increased odds of gambling disorder, but only for those with low income (< $15,000; OR 2.27, 95% CI 1.46, 3.53). There was no evidence that the effect of income on gambling disorder varies by race/ethnicity. For all race/ethnicities combined, low income was associated with significantly increased odds of gambling disorder (OR 2.27, 95% CI 1.46, 3.53). Further research is needed to better understand racial/ethnic differences in gambling disorder.

If You Build It, Will Vets Come? An Identity Theory Approach to Expanding Veterans’ Treatment Court Participation

Veterans’ treatment courts (VTCs) provide a veteran-centric diversion option to traditional court case processing. These courts have proliferated across the United States without much consideration about whether veterans want, or need, a specialty court. In this article, we investigate the underlying importance of a veteran identity in the decision to enroll in a VTC. Based on in-depth qualitative interviews with veterans, we identify four primary implications for practitioners. First, veterans are ashamed of their criminal justice involvement. Second, they are concerned about increased punitiveness by criminal justice actors, particularly law enforcement, because of their veteran status. Third, veterans perceive the VTC process to bestow upon them stigma and retaliation. Fourth, veterans resist VTC involvement for fear of dishonoring their branch of service. To expand enrollment, results demonstrate that practitioners should consider how veterans reconcile their veteran and offender identities when considering VTC enrollment.

Sexual Orientation Differences in Gun Ownership and Beliefs About Gun Safety Policy, General Social Survey 2010-2016.

The aim of this study was to investigate sexual orientation differences in gun ownership and gun safety beliefs among U.S. adults. We used information from the General Social Survey (2010-2016) to assess presence of guns in the household, personal gun ownership, and endorsement of a gun safety law among sexual minority (n = 195) versus heterosexual (n = 4359) respondents. Methods employed multivariate logistic regression analyses adjusted for confounding including gender, age, race/ethnicity, education level, size of household, urbanicity, military veteran status, and political views. Gay/bisexual men were more likely to endorse a gun safety law (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 3.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.79-5.88) and less likely to report guns in the household (aOR = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.18-0.65) than heterosexual men. In contrast, lesbian/bisexual and heterosexual women similarly endorsed a gun safety law and reported household guns. However, among women reporting a household gun, lesbian/bisexual women were more likely to be the personal gun owner (aOR = 3.97, 95% CI = 1.43-11.03). Attitudes toward a gun safety law and gun ownership differ by sexual orientation, but patterns vary by gender. We recommend that clinicians inquire about gun ownership and gun storage practices with both heterosexual and sexual minority patients.

Opioid agonist treatment and fatal overdose risk in a state-wide US population receiving opioid use disorder services.

Evidence from randomized controlled trials establishes that medication treatment with methadone and buprenorphine reduces opioid use and improves treatment retention. However, little is known about the role of such medications compared with non-medication treatments in mitigating overdose risk among US patient populations receiving treatment in usual care settings. This study compared overdose mortality among those in medication versus non-medication treatments in specialty care settings. Retrospective cohort study using state-wide treatment data linked to death records. Survival analysis was used to analyze data in a time-to-event framework. Services delivered by 757 providers in publicly funded out-patient specialty treatment programs in Maryland, USA between 1January 2015 and 31December 2016. A total of 48 274 adults admitted to out-patient specialty treatment programs in 2015-16 for primary diagnosis of opioid use disorder. Main exposure was time in medication treatment (methadone/buprenorphine), time following medication treatment, time exposed to non-medication treatments and time following non-medication treatment. Main outcome was opioid overdose death during and after treatment. Hazard ratios were calculated using Cox proportional hazard regression. Propensity score weights were adjusted for patient information on sex, age, race, region of residence, marital and veteran status, employment, homelessness, primary opioid, mental health treatment, arrests and criminal justice referral. The study population experienced 371 opioid overdose deaths. Periods in medication treatment were associated with substantially reduced hazard of opioid overdose death compared with periods in non-medication treatment [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR)=0.18, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.08-0.40]. Periods after discharge from non-medication treatment (aHR=5.45, 95% CI=2.80-9.53) and medication treatment (aHR=5.85, 95% CI=3.10-11.02) had similar and substantially elevated risks compared with periods in non-medication treatments. Among Maryland patients in specialty opioid treatment, periods in treatment are protective against overdose compared with periods out of care. Methadone and buprenorphine are associated with significantly lower overdose death compared with non-medication treatments during care but not after treatment is discontinued.

Judging the Communist Past: Historians and Cultural Expertise in Polish Administrative Courts

Since 1989, cultural expertise has emerged as a crucial factor in navigating Poland's communist past. The use of cultural expertise provided by historians was institutionalized in 1999, when the Institute of National Remembrance was created and charged with prosecuting Nazi and communist crimes, as well as assisting with the belated decommunization. Expert historians are requested by courts and other institutions to provide opinions in cases ranging from alleged collaboration with communist secret services, withdrawal of veteran status bestowed to soldiers of communist military units fighting the Polish resistance movement, awarding compensation to victims of German concentration and labour camps, to changing names of places named after prominent Party activists. Using this expertise requires the courts to understand the intricacies of recent Polish history, such as the operational methodology and archival practices of communist secret services, or the complex interplay of motives to collaborate (or not) with foreign oppressors. In this paper, the new salience of historical expertise for the Polish courts is analysed within the framework of Honneth's (1995) ‘struggle for recognition’ and Haldemann's (2008) work on the symbolic role of courts in transitional justice contexts.

Suicide among justice-involved veterans: a brief overview of extant research, theoretical conceptualization, and recommendations for future research

ABSTRACT Both justice-involved individuals and veterans are at elevated risk for suicide. Despite this, research examining the intersection between justice involvement and veteran status has been limited. In addition, factors which drive risk for suicidal self-directed violence (i.e. suicide attempt, suicide) among justice-involved veterans remain understudied. This paper serves as a brief overview of extant literature regarding potential psychosocial factors which may drive suicide risk in this population. Additionally, the Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide is applied to posit specific factors underlying justice-involved veterans’ risk for suicidal self-directed violence. Finally, given the limited suicide-focused research specific to justice-involved veterans, we propose specific directions that are needed for subsequent research. In particular, further examination of a conceptual model of suicide risk in this population, as well as methods for intervening on identified risk factors, remain necessary to effectively prevent suicide in this understudied population of veterans.

Loneliness Following Widowhood: The Role of the Military and Social Support

Increased loneliness is a common consequence of widowhood in later life. However, individuals with high levels of perceived social support from friends tend to cope more effectively following major social losses like widowhood. Military service is associated with cultivation of strong social support structures. This effect may not only influence those who serve, but also their spouses. Roughly half of older women today are married to veterans, which could shape how they cope with widowhood. We tested two hypotheses: (a) widows of veterans will be less lonely following widowhood compared to their nonveteran counterparts, and (b) this effect will be explained by perceived social support from friends. We used the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to examine changes in loneliness following widowhood among wives of veterans and nonveterans. We used Ordinary Least Squares regression and mediation tests to address our hypotheses. Net of baseline differences, widows of veterans reported statistically lower levels of loneliness (p < .05) following widowhood compared to widows of nonveterans. Widows of veterans retained the same level of perceived social support from friends pre- and postwidowhood, whereas nonveteran wives experienced a loss. Perceived social support from friends mediated the association between veteran status of the deceased spouse and loneliness. Our findings suggest wives of veterans may have more resilient social support structures than nonveteran spouses, helping them cope at widowhood. Future research should explore whether these effects persist in association with other major stressful events in later life.

Correlates of Single Versus Multiple Functional Disabilities Among Aging Americans: Race/Ethnicity and Region of Birth.

Background:Significant racial/ethnic disparities exist in the prevalence of functional disability among older Americans.Objective:The study analyzed the odds of older people in the United States experiencing single and multiple disabilities, by race and region of birth.Method:Data came from the American Community Survey (2011–2015). Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used.Results:Region of birth, race/ethnicity, age, citizenship status, duration of stay, sex, marital status, veteran status, educational attainment, poverty status, and class of workers were all significantly associated with reports of either single or multiple disabilities. However, the introduction of the interaction terms for citizenship status by race modified some of the significant results. For instance, being born in Latin America no longer reduced the odds in reports of both single and multiple disabilities. However, compared with Whites and native-born of all races, both Hispanics who were either naturalized or were noncitizens had lower odds of reporting multiple disabilities (27% and 28% lower, respectively), whereas naturalized Hispanics also had significantly reduced odds (22%) for a single disability.Conclusion:These findings add to the disability, race/ethnicity, and place of birth literature.

Smoking Among U.S. Service Members Following Transition From Military to Veteran Status.

Smoking rates among U.S. Service members and veterans have been consistently higher than in civilian populations. While much has been published about tobacco use in both military and veteran populations, smoking patterns during transition from military to veteran status remains unclear. We studied military members participating in the Millennium Cohort Study, who separated from their respective Services between baseline and first follow-up survey (N = 5,510). Two generalized estimating equation models were used to examine any association between smoking status and time to military separation (days between baseline survey and separation), as well as smoking during transition and reason for separation. Reason for separation was categorized into three groups: (1) not meeting military standards or judicial-related reasons, (2) drugs-/alcohol-related misconduct, and (3) other types of separation including retirement, pregnancy, and so on. Statistical models accounted for baseline smoking and demographic/military/health behavioral/mental health characteristics. Overall, we observed a decline in smoking prevalence over time (19.5%, 16.7%, 15.2%, and 12.6%, respectively). However, we found a 22% increase in the odds of smoking among those who stayed in the military between 3 months and 1 year, compared to those who stayed 2+ years. Additionally, participants separating for standard/judicial reason(s) showed 69% increased smoking compared to those with other reasons for separation. The time period immediately prior to Service separation and certain types of separation were associated with increased odds of smoking. Thus, smoking cessation interventions should target Service members during this transition period to potentially reduce smoking prevalence after separation.

Veteran-nonveteran differences in alcohol and drug misuse by tobacco use status in Alabama SBIRT

ABSTRACTAlcohol and substance use can challenge military veterans who live in rural communities. In 2016, the screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment in Alabama (AL-SBIRT) program was implemented in west Alabama. The primary aim of this study was to determine whether current tobacco use modified the relationship between veteran status and substance misuse. Self-reported wellness data was collected regarding substance, alcohol, or tobacco consumption. Risk levels for alcohol and drug use were measured using the United States Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (US-AUDIT) and the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST)-10. Substance and tobacco use were significantly and positively correlated. Veterans had a higher US-AUDIT and DAST score than nonveterans, and tobacco appeared to be an exacerbating factor. Effective evidence-based interventions are needed in rural settings. Technology based programs and motivational interviewing with trained clinicians may serve as beneficial and cost-effective interventions for tobacco use prevention and cessation efforts.

Suicide, Alcohol Intoxication, and Age Among Whites and American Indians/Alaskan Natives.

Among American Indians/Alaskan Natives (AI/ANs), suicides are disproportionately high among those younger than 40years of age. This paper examines suicide and alcohol intoxication (postmortem BAC≥0.08g/dl) by age among Whites and AI/ANs to better understand the reasons for the high rate of suicide among AI/ANs for those younger than 40. Data come from the restricted 2003 to 2016 National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS), with postmortem information on 79,150 White and AI/AN suicide decedents of both genders who had a BAC test in 32 states of the United States. Among Whites, 39.3% of decedents legally intoxicated are younger than 40years of age, while among AI/ANs the proportion is 72.9% (p<0.001). Multivariable logistic regression with data divided by age shows that in the 18 to 39 age group, AI/ANs are about 2 times more likely than Whites to have a postmortem BAC≥0.08. Veteran status compared to nonveteran, and history of alcohol problems prior to suicide were also associated with BAC≥0.08. Suicide methods other than by firearm and a report of the presence of 2 or more suicide precipitating circumstances were protective against BAC≥0.08. Results for the age group 40years of age and older mirror those for the younger group with 1 exception: Race/ethnicity was not associated with BAC level. The proportion of suicide decedents with a BAC≥0.08 is higher among AI/ANs than Whites, especially among those 18 to 39years of age. However, acute alcohol intoxication does not fully explain differences in suicide age structure between AI/ANs and Whites.

AGE DIFFERENCES IN PSYCHOSOCIAL AND HEALTH OUTCOMES AMONG ADULTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS

Homelessness is a critical social problem for this nation. It takes a tremendous toll on individuals and families who live without stable shelter, adequate food, and personal security, as well as strains the societal resources. The mean age of death for people experiencing homelessness has been reported to be age 50, far less than the 76 years that is the average for Arkansas. This study investigates the sociodemographic, behavioral and health-related data of 331 adults experiencing homelessness in Central Arkansas. Data was collected by structured interviews during recent homeless counts. Participants ranged in age from 18 to 70, with quartiles established for ages 18-35, 36-45, 46-55 and 56 –70. Sociodemographic comparisons of the groups included education, income, months homeless, work and veteran status, behavioral variables included alcohol use and drug abuse, whereas health-related comparisons included reported diabetes, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, problems with hearing, vision, walking as well as mental health including anxiety and depression; in addition, medication procurement and available assistance from family and friends were compared. Preliminary results suggest significant differences, as well as some similarities, among the four age quartiles. Analyses are on-going.

LONELINESS FOLLOWING WIDOWHOOD: THE ROLE OF THE MILITARY AND SOCIAL SUPPORT

Social support provides important benefits following widowhood. One context promoting social support throughout life may be the military, where benefits extend to both service members and their spouses. A substantial proportion of older men served in the military, so many widowed women today were married to veterans. We tested two hypotheses: 1) surviving military spouses will experience lower persistent loneliness following widowhood compared to their nonmilitary counterparts, and 2) this benefit is explained by increased emotional and structural social support. Our study uses the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to examine changes in loneliness following widowhood among spouses of veterans and nonveterans. We used OLS regression and mediation tests to address our hypotheses. Overall, results supported our hypotheses. Widows of veterans reported lower levels of loneliness following widowhood compared to nonveteran widows (=-0.122; p<0.05). Emotional and structural social support mediated the relationship between veteran status of the deceased spouse and loneliness. Specifically, the beneficial effect of veteran status was reduced by almost 50% and became nonsignificant. Our findings suggest the military may facilitate lifelong cultivation of social support that flows not only to veterans but also to their families. These findings are suggest that the military may offer important opportunities to cultivate emotional and structural social supports that enhance the ability of veteran wives to more readily adjust to widowhood. Additionally, they emphasize the importance of having social support in later life when faced with adversity, as it seems to ameliorate some of the negative effects.

ARCHIVES OF GERONTOLOGY AND GERIATRICS: MEN’S HEALTH AND AGING

Historically men typically have had more opportunities, privileges, and power; yet men die sooner and have earlier onset of health conditions compared to women. This is largely because there is a paucity of research focusing on the complex interaction that exists between social, behavioral, biological, and psychosocial factors among men. This symposium contains a collection of papers in the latest Volume of the Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics that discuss some key factors that can provide insights to advance our understanding of men’s health and aging. Kelley and colleagues bring together several important concepts from sociology and gerontology to provide an explanatory framework for older men’s differential health profiles within and between cohorts, and over time. Wilmoth and colleagues discuss the complexities of understanding the health and well-being of male veterans in late life by providing critical insight on next steps that are needed on specific war-era cohorts to identify the mechanisms that shape veteran status differences in late-life health and mortality. Taylor and Taylor focus on social isolation and loneliness among a diverse sample of older men including understanding how social isolation and loneliness impact health outcomes. Bruce and Thorpe focus on how faith has implications for socio-biologic interactions associated with elevated risk for disease and premature death among this marginalized population. These presentations collectively will bolster our knowledge on men’s health and aging.