Overview

Abstract (English)

One of the strengths of research using a longitudinal design is its ability to compare individuals over time. However, attrition from follow-up threatens the validity of such comparisons. If individuals who fail to respond to a questionnaire over time are systematically different from individuals who do respond, estimates of trends may be biased.1 A limited body of research has examined longitudinal attrition specific to military populations. Of those published, many of the characteristics associated with loss to follow-up overlap with those noted in nonmilitary samples, including male sex, lower educational attainment, and younger age,2 while military-specific correlates include lower rank and military separation.3,4 However, a dearth of information exists on psychiatric correlates of attrition, particularly in the military context. … In sum, only a few demographic characteristics were associated with loss to follow-up. Military status, common mental disorders, traumatic experiences, and childhood adversities were not associated with attrition. These findings align with prior evaluations of attrition in military and nonmilitary longitudinal studies,2–4 and expand our understanding to a Canadian military context. Although it has been suggested that attrition in longitudinal psychiatric epidemiologic studies is related to mental health issues among participants, this did not appear to be the case in this sample. Knowledge of this evaluation is vital to interpretation of risk estimates in the longitudinal context among Canadian military personnel and, more specifically, when using the CAFVMHS data.

Abstract (French)

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