Hypothesis
1. We hypothesise that uninjured personnel will report higher levels of perceived social support than combat-injured personnel. Further, in a subgroup analysis, combat-injured personnel with an amputation will report higher perceived social support than non-amputation injured personnel.2. We hypothesise that personnel who report higher levels of perceived social support will have reduced odds of experiencing mental health problems.
Summary
Social support is a key determinant of mental health across multiple populations and contexts. Little is known about social support among UK (ex-)military personnel, especially those with combat injuries following deployment to Afghanistan. This study aims to investigate the level of perceived social support and its associations with mental health among injured and uninjured UK (ex-)military personnel.
Mann-Whitney U tests will be performed to assess differences in the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) total scores between injured and uninjured personnel. MSPSS scores will be transformed using linear splines with a knot at ? 55. Multivariable logistic regression analyses will examine associations between perceived social support and mental health.
Keywords
Perceived social support, Mental Health, Combat Injury