Objective: This study evaluated the association between military service and health-related quality of life (HRQOL), using a large, population-based sample of U.S. adults.
Methods: Participants in the 2000 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were characterized as active duty personnel (N = 1,163), reserves (N = 1,055], veterans (N = 22,558), or no military service (N = 141,620). HRQOL was described by sex and military status. Logistic regression was used to calculate sex-specific adjusted odds ratios.
Results: Active duty men were more likely than men without military service to report 14 or more days of activity limitation, pain, and not enough rest in the past 30 days. Reserve personnel reported better overall HRQOL than nonmilitary participants, and no difference in HRQOL was observed between veterans and persons with no military service.
Conclusions: Recommendations are made to monitor HRQOL of active duty and reserve personnel over time and to include HRQOL measures in military-based surveys of active duty troops.