Purpose After Service Through Sport (PASS)

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a gender-sensitized social-connectedness physical activity program in relation to key markers of well-being among military veteran men over 6 months.

The transition to civilian life can bring about substantive challenges for military veterans. Particular challenges include a loss of identity, feelings of loneliness and isolation, difficulties with finding and retaining employment, substance misuse, and problems adjusting to very different work and cultural environments. A growing body of scientific evidence also indicates that military veterans are at notable risk of depleted mental health (e.g., depression, suicide ideation).

The study involves broadening the evaluation (e.g., assess its impact on mental and physical health) and reach (e.g. extend to other Canadian cities) of a recently developed pilot program, Purpose After Service through Sport (PASS), which was completed in Vancouver in 2020 and assessed for its feasibility and acceptability. The results from this pilot study revealed that the program was well-received (by both military leadership and veterans themselves), fostered a sense of social connectivity among veterans, resulted in (self-reported) physical and psychological health benefits, and displayed considerable potential for scale up and evaluation using a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design.

The PASS Randomized Trial draws from the empirical evidence related to (a) the mental health benefits of regular physical activity, (b) benefits of group-based programs that foster social connectivity, (c) the importance of, and potential derived from, developing and implementing gender-sensitized programs, and (d) the pilot study described above.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Former members of the Canadian (or Allied Forces; e.g., NATO countries) military, or current members of the Canadian military, and not experience any contraindication which might prevent that person from participating in moderate-intensity physical activity.
* Self-identification as a man (if sex at birth is 'female' but participants identify as 'man' they are eligible to participate).
* Have received full dosage of the COVID-19 vaccination (min 2 injections) and must provide proof of vaccination, as this is required to access all active military bases in Canada.
* Be able to read and understand English or French.
* Have access to a computer, tablet, or other device, that has access to the internet.
* Live at, or in close proximity to, one of the nine study locations (Esquimalt, BC; Edmonton, AB, Shilo, MB; Borden, ON; Kingston, ON; Petawawa, ON; Valcartier, QC; Montreal, QC; Gagetown, NB)

Exclusion Criteria:

* Not a former member of the Canadian (or Allied Forces; e.g., NATO countries) military, or current member of the Canadian military.
* Unable to participate in moderate-intensity physical activity (as screened via the PAR-Q and ePARmedX), including a lack of ability to receive doctor's clearance for participating in physical activity.
* Unable to speak or read English or French
* Lack of internet access which prevents access to online materials (e.g., questionnaires).
* Participants do not self-identify as 'man'. If participants disclose 'sex' as female but self-identify their gender identity as 'man' they are eligible to participate in the study and we would include their psychological responses in the main analyses. In such an instance, their biological measures (blood draws, blood pressure, and physical fitness tests) would be analyzed separately from those whose sex (male) and gender identity (man) are concordant.
* Not living in proximity to one of the participating sites (in order to take part in the in-person group-based activities).