Health behaviors of military retirees: incidence of smoking and alcohol use.

Previous investigations of the health behaviors of active duty military members and their dependent spouses generally have found a higher rate of smoking and greater alcohol use in this group compared to their civilian counterparts. However, it is not known whether military retirees and their dependents also report higher smoking and alcohol use compared to the general senior population. Therefore, this study examined cigarette and alcohol use in a group of military retirees (n = 1,359) and dependents (n = 983). Contrary to studies surveying active duty members and their spouses, the present study found that smoking rates and alcohol use among military retirees and dependents were similar to those reported in surveys of the general senior population. In addition, the fact that the majority of retirees (68%) classified themselves as ex-smokers suggests that these individuals may adopt more healthy lifestyles over time. Factors associated with smoking and alcohol use are also presented, along with suggestions for future research.