Methodology

Data in this report are obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)—the world’s largest, annual population-based telephone survey of more than 400,000 people. Four years of data are included—2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014. To ensure adequate sample size for the number of people who have served, data are analyzed in two-year increments: 2011 to 2012 and 2013 to 2014.

Sampling weights are adjusted to reflect the two-year combination of data. Given the different age distributions of those who have served and those who have not served, data are age-adjusted to the 2000 U.S. Standard Population to ensure meaningful comparison between groups.

Point estimates and 95% confidence intervals are calculated for those who have served and those who have not, overall and by gender (male and female), race and ethnicity (Hispanic, non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, Asian, Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native), age (18 to 39 years, 40 to 59 years, 60 to 79 years, and 80+ years), and annual income (less than $25,000, $25,000 to $49,999, $50,000 to $74,999, and $75,000 or more). Age-adjusted rates are included in the body of the report.