Jones, M., Jones, N., Burdett, H., Bergman, B. P., Fear, N.T., Wessely, S. and Rona, R.J. (2023) Do Junior Entrants to the UK Armed Forces have worse outcomes than Standard Entrants? BMJ Military Health, 169, pp. 218-224. (doi: 10.1136/bmjmilitary-2021-001787) (PMID:33879526)
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Abstract
Introduction: The UK is the only permanent member of the UN Security Council that has a policy of recruiting 16 and 17 year old individuals into its regular Armed Forces. Little is known about the consequences of enlisting as a Junior Entrant (JE), although concerns have been expressed. We compare the mental health, deployment history, and pre-enlistment and post-enlistment experiences of personnel who had enlisted as JEs with personnel who joined as Standard Entrants (SEs). Method: Participants from a large UK military cohort study completed a self-report questionnaire between 2014 and 2016 that included symptoms of probable post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), common mental disorders, alcohol consumption, physical symptoms and lifetime self-harm. Data from regular non-officer participants (n=4447) from all service branches were used in the analysis. JEs were defined as having enlisted before the age of 17.5 years. A subgroup analysis of participants who had joined or commenced adult service after April 2003 was carried out. Results: JEs were not more likely to deploy to Iraq or Afghanistan but were more likely to hold a combat role when they did (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.56). There was no evidence of an increase in symptoms of common mental disorders, PTSD, multiple somatic symptoms (MSS), alcohol misuse or self-harm in JEs in the full sample, but there was an increase in alcohol misuse (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.18 to 2.87), MSS (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.04 to 2.20) and self-harm (OR 2.13, 95% CI 1.15 to 3.95) in JEs who had commenced adult service after April 2003. JEs remain in adult service for longer and do not have more difficulties when they leave service. Conclusions: JEs do not have worse mental health than SEs, but there is uncertainty in relation to alcohol misuse, MSS and self-harm in more recent joiners. Monitoring these concerns is advisable.
Item Type: | Articles |
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Additional Information: | This work was supported by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD). |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Bergman, Dr Beverly |
Authors: | Jones, M., Jones, N., Burdett, H., Bergman, B. P., Fear, N.T., Wessely, S., and Rona, R.J. |
College/School: | College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > General Practice and Primary Care |
Journal Name: | BMJ Military Health |
Publisher: | BMJ Publishing Group |
ISSN: | 2633-3767 |
ISSN (Online): | 2633-3775 |
Published Online: | 20 April 2021 |
Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2021 The Authors |
First Published: | First published in BMJ Military Health 169:218-224 |
Publisher Policy: | Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher |
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