Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8519-0437

Date Available

5-11-2024

Year of Publication

2024

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Document Type

Master's Thesis

College

Arts and Sciences

Department/School/Program

Psychology

First Advisor

Dr. Thomas Adams

Abstract

Research suggests that higher rates of health conditions are associated with lower levels of physical activity, but this association is not well characterized in U.S. Military Veterans. The current study utilized a sample of U.S. military veterans (n = 3,989) from the 2019-2020 National Health and Resiliency in Veterans Study (NHRVS). Physical activity levels (insufficient, moderate, and active), physical and mental health were evaluated with a variety of self-report questionnaires. After controlling for covariates, veterans with any disability, asthma, chronic pain, diabetes, high cholesterol, and stroke were significantly less likely to report sufficient physical activity compared to insufficient physical activity (ps ≤ 0.01). After controlling for covariates, veterans with any disability, asthma, chronic pain, and probable lifetime nicotine dependence were less likely to report moderate physical activity compared to insufficient physical activity (ps ≤ 0.02). After controlling for covariates, veterans with probable lifetime PTSD were more likely to report sufficient levels of physical activity relative to insufficient physical activity (p = 0.02). Veterans with statistically significant health conditions may find engaging in physical activity more difficult or less desirable. Covariates (e.g., health functioning, SES, BMI, and age) explained a significant amount of the variance in physical activity levels.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2024.144

Funding Information

Veterans Affairs National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (Yale Pepper Center National Institute on Aging Grant P30AG21342)

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