Mental health and educational outcomes among current and former National Guard and Reserve soldiers

Objective: This study examined the relationships between mental health and educational outcomes among student service members and veterans (SSM/Vs). Participants: Current/former Reserve and National Guard (R/NG) soldiers who were enrolled in school, college, or university in the past year (n = 130). Data were collected in 2014–2016. Methods: Exact logistic regression models separately examined the impact of anxiety, depression, anger, and PTSD on quitting/flunking in the past year. Final models controlled for sex and deployment status. Results: In final models, anxiety [OR: 1.14; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.05, 1.23; p<.01], anger (OR: 1.12; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.21; p<.01), and PTSD (OR: 1.06; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.10; p<.01) were associated with a higher odds of quitting/flunking school, college or university. Depression was not associated with quitting/flunking. Conclusion: Anxiety, anger, and PTSD are associated with quitting/flunking among SSM/Vs. Interventions tailored to this population that address mental health needs may improve the likelihood of academic success.