Problematic anger and economic difficulties: Findings from the Millennium Cohort Study

Amy B Adler; Cynthia A LeardMann; Sandra Yun; Isabel G Jacobson; David Forbes; Millennium Cohort Study Team

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2021.10.078

Problematic anger and economic difficulties: Findings from the Millennium Cohort Study

J Affect Disord. 2022 Jan 15:297:679-685. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.10.078. Epub 2021 Oct 25.

Authors

Amy B Adler¹, Cynthia A LeardMann², Sandra Yun², Isabel G Jacobson², David Forbes³; Millennium Cohort Study Team

Affiliations

¹ Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910, United States. Electronic address: amy.b.adler.civ@mail.mil.
² Deployment Health Research Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA, United States; Leidos, San Diego, CA, United States.
³ Department of Psychiatry, Phoenix Australia-Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC, Australia.

PMID: 34710505
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.10.078

Abstract

Background: The role of problematic anger in relation to economic difficulties is not well understood. This study examined the association of problematic anger with 4 elements of economic difficulties among service members and veterans.

Methods: Study participants (n = 95,895) were from the Millennium Cohort Study, and included U.S. service members and veterans; analyses were restricted to a Reserve/National Guard and/or veteran sample as appropriate. Key measures included the Dimensions of Anger Reactions scale and self-reported economic variables (involuntary job loss, financial problems, unemployment and homelessness). Covariates included demographics, military characteristics, disabling injury or illness, problem drinking, posttraumatic stress disorder, and major depressive disorder. The study design was cross-sectional.

Results: Among all participants, 17.4% screened positive for problematic anger, 29.7% reported involuntary job loss, and 6.4% reported financial problems. After adjustment for covariates, problematic anger was associated with involuntary job loss (AOR=1.28; 95% CI: 1.22, 1.33) and financial problems (AOR=1.46; 95% CI: 1.36, 1.57). Among veterans, 12.1% reported being unemployed; among Reserve/National Guard and veterans, 2.3% reported homelessness. Problematic anger was associated with unemployment (AOR=1.28, 95% CI: 1.18, 1.37) and homelessness (AOR=1.33; 95% CI: 1.16, 1.52) after adjusting for covariates.

Limitations: The study relied on self-report data and directionality could not be established.

Conclusions: Problematic anger was significantly associated with involuntary job loss, financial problems, unemployment and homelessness, even after adjusting for relevant covariates. These findings have clinical relevance in demonstrating the potential for targeting problematic anger in service members and veterans.

Keywords: Anger; Cohort studies; Financial status; Mental health; Military; Veterans.

Publication types

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Anger
Cohort Studies
Cross-Sectional Studies
Depressive Disorder, Major*
Humans
Military Personnel*
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic*
Veterans*