Research Indicates US Military Service May Reduce Depression Risk

A comprehensive observational study suggests that serving in the US military may actually lower the likelihood of experiencing depression, challenging some previous assumptions about the mental health impacts of military service. Despite the high prevalence of depression among active-duty personnel and veterans, this large-scale analysis indicates a potential protective effect.

Military service environments can be associated with both risks and benefits concerning mental health. Factors such as separation from loved ones, exposure to combat, and physical and emotional stress may contribute to the development of depression. Conversely, military experiences can foster personal growth, resilience, and improved coping mechanisms.

The study analyzed data from five cycles of the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2011 and 2023, assessing depression levels through the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). This tool evaluates the frequency of nine depressive symptoms over the past two weeks, with scores indicating the severity of depression.

Out of nearly 26,000 respondents, approximately 8,847,000 individuals reported having served in the military, while over 89 million had not. The overall depression prevalence was about 9.5%, but it was lower among those with military service at 7.5%. After adjusting for factors like age, sex, race, marital status, income, and health conditions, military service was associated with a 22-23% reduction in the risk of depression.

Among veterans, the raw prevalence of depression was similar to non-veterans, but when accounting for demographic and health factors, veterans tended to have a slightly lower risk. Female sex and being unmarried or divorced were identified as significant depression risk factors, while higher income levels and absence of certain health issues appeared protective.

The researchers acknowledge limitations, including the inability to account for combat exposure, trauma, or illness severity. Nonetheless, they emphasize that their findings do not support the idea that military service heightens depression risk. Instead, the data suggest that military service might serve as a protective factor against depression in the general population.

This study highlights the complexity of mental health outcomes related to military service and underscores the importance of considering a broad range of sociodemographic and health variables in such research.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-general-military-heighten-depression.html