Document Type

Poster

Date

4-9-2026

Keywords

Distress, Hazardous duty, Alcohol risk, Veterans

Campus Community

Center for Health Behavior Research and Innovation; Department of Psychology; College of Arts and Sciences; Veteran and Military Behavioral Health Collaborative; D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families; Syracuse University; VA Center for Integrated Healthcare

Language

English

Funder(s)

Center for Health Behavior Research & Innovation, D'Aniello Institute of Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University, Veteran & Military Health Collaborative

Disciplines

Military and Veterans Studies

Description/Abstract

Introduction: Military service and college environments are each associated with higher alcohol risk. Psychological distress is consistently linked to alcohol risk, and hazardous duty exposure is associated with both greater distress and problematic alcohol use. However, it remains unclear whether hazardous duty influences the relationship between psychological distress and alcohol risk among student service members. Clarifying this relationship is critical to informing targeted prevention and support efforts for veterans in higher education. Method: Participants included 3,258 current and former service members who responded to the American College Health Association 2023-2025 National College Health Assessment IIIb. Participants completed measures on alcohol risk, psychological distress, and hazardous duty. Results: Results indicated a positive association between alcohol risk and psychological distress (b =.26, SE=.02; p < .001) and a positive association between alcohol risk and hazardous duty when controlling for psychological distress (b =1.07, SE =.24; p < .001). In addition, the relationship between alcohol risk and psychological distress was moderated by hazardous duty exposure (b = .09, SE = .04; p = .03). Conclusion: These findings suggest that hazardous duty exposure may heighten vulnerability to alcohol risk by strengthening the association between psychological distress and alcohol use among student service members. Future research should explore specific exposures on the relationship between psychological distress and alcohol risk as well as tailoring interventions to address the impact of hazardous duty exposure on student veteran health and wellbeing.

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