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Military service, exposure to trauma, and health in older adulthood: An analysis of northern vietnamese survivors of the vietnam war

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  • Korinek, K.
  • Teerawichitchainan, B.

Abstract

Objectives. We sought to better understand the association between early life exposure to war and trauma and older adult health status in a developing setting. Methods. We analyzed data of 405 Vietnamese men and women in 1 northern Vietnam commune who entered early adulthood during the Vietnam War and who are now entering late adulthood (i.e., ages 55 years and older in 2010). Results. The toll of war's trauma in the aging northern Vietnamese population was perceptible in the association between exposure to war trauma and various measures of physical health, including negative self-reported health and somatic symptoms. Killing another person and being exposed to toxic substances in warfare was especially detrimental to health in older adulthood. War traumas were likely implicated more strongly as determinants of late adulthood health in men than in women. The weak association between trauma exposure and reported depressive symptoms raised questions about measuring mental health. Conclusions. Military service and war trauma were important determinants of older adult health beyond the US context, given the widespread waging of war and concentration of recent armed conflicts within developing societies.

Suggested Citation

  • Korinek, K. & Teerawichitchainan, B., 2014. "Military service, exposure to trauma, and health in older adulthood: An analysis of northern vietnamese survivors of the vietnam war," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 104(8), pages 1478-1487.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2014.301925_2
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2014.301925
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    Cited by:

    1. Nobuaki Yamashita & Trong‐Anh Trinh, 2022. "Long‐Term Effects of Vietnam War: Agent Orange and the Health of Vietnamese People After 30 Years," Asian Economic Journal, East Asian Economic Association, vol. 36(2), pages 180-202, June.
    2. Kim Korinek & Peter Loebach & Ha Ngoc Trinh, 2017. "Military service and smoking in a cohort of northern Vietnamese older adults," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 62(1), pages 43-51, January.
    3. Mevlude Akbulut-Yuksel & Zachary Zimmer & Sujita Pandey & Tran Khanh Toan, 2024. "Untold Story of Wartime Children: Results of the Vietnam Health and Aging Study," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 43(2), pages 1-24, April.

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