Rumination and depressive symptoms among aging Veterans: The moderating role of social support

Introduction: Rumination has been linked to worsened mental health outcomes, but its specific association with depressive symptoms among aging Veterans remains unclear. While social support may buffer adverse effects of rumination on well-being, it is not yet well understood which sources of social support are most effective. This study explored whether different sources of social support (spouse/partner, family, military friends, and civilian friends) moderate the association between rumination and depressive symptoms within an aging Veteran sample. Methods: Seventy U.S. Veterans aged at least 60 years, most of whom served during the Vietnam Era, were recruited nationally. Participants served in the army (n = 25), navy (n = 17), air force (n = 14), Marine Corps (n = 10), and coast guard (n = 4), and completed online surveys. Measures included the Ruminative Thought Style Questionnaire (RTS), the PROMIS Depression Short Form, and surveys of social support from various sources. Results: After controlling for age, sex, rank at separation, and number of deployments outside the United States, family support was associated with lower depressive symptoms. Rumination was associated with higher depressive symptoms, but it was also moderated by support from military friends. Specifically, rumination was associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms in the context of low and moderate — but not high — support from military friends. Discussion: Our findings highlight the protective role of military friendships in promoting Veterans’ mental health and well-being later in life, particularly regarding their use of rumination as a coping strategy.