Exploring the Veteran-Civilian Health Crossover: A Matching Estimator Approach
Open Access
Author:
Roberts, Mary
Graduate Program:
Sociology (MA)
Degree:
Master of Arts
Document Type:
Master Thesis
Date of Defense:
October 20, 2021
Committee Members:
Eric Baumer, Program Head/Chair Jonathan Kyle Daw, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor Thomas Anthony Loughran, IV, Committee Member Daniel F Perkins, Committee Member
Keywords:
veterans depression physical health biomarkers institutions military
Abstract:
Institutions that individuals enter and leave through their lives may significantly shape their life trajectories, such as daycare and primary school for children; secondary schools and youth organizations for adolescents; college, work, prison, and the military for young adults. These institutions have been shown to impact young people’s health. However, the highly selective nature of these institutions proves difficult for estimating causal effects. I used The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) in combination with propensity score matching to examine the effect of military service on future physical and mental health. I found that military service provides a buffer against physical health deterioration for veterans between the ages 21- and 32-years old, this begins to diminish when the reach the ages of 32-40 years old. At older ages veterans exhibit both mental and physical health decline compared to their civilian counterparts, lending support to the theory of a veteran-civilian health crossover.
