Most Vietnamese young adults who experienced the American War were exposed to war-related violence, which can exert a lifelong impact. We analyze survey data collected among northern and central Vietnamese older adults in the 2018 Vietnam Health and Aging Study (N = 2,447) to examine the association between various war traumas, psychological distress, and suicidal ideation. Informed by life course and stress process perspectives, we use structural equation models with multiple mediators to analyze the relationship between mental health outcomes and five types of wartime stress exposure: loss of family and friends, witnessing death, malevolent living conditions, life threat, and moral injury. Our findings reveal enduring mental health impacts of war among survivors. Wartime stress exposure’s influence on mental health is mediated by recent comorbidities and stressful life events. Loss of family members, witnessing death, and malevolent living conditions during war are particularly salient risks for psychological distress.

大多数经历过美国战争的越南年轻人都接触过与战争有关的暴力，这可能会产生终生的影响。我们分析了在 2018 年越南健康与老龄化研究 (N = 2,447) 中收集的越南北部和中部老年人的调查数据，以检查各种战争创伤、心理困扰和自杀意念之间的关联。从生命历程和压力过程的角度出发，我们使用具有多重中介作用的结构方程模型来分析心理健康结果与战时压力暴露的五种类型之间的关系：失去家人和朋友、目睹死亡、恶劣的生活条件、生命威胁和道德伤害。我们的研究结果揭示了战争对幸存者心理健康的持久影响。战时压力暴露对心理健康的影响是由最近的合并症和压力性生活事件介导的。战争期间失去家人、目睹死亡和恶劣的生活条件是造成心理困扰的特别突出的风险。