OBJECTIVE: Interpersonal violence is a common barrier to reintegration into civilian life in post-9/11 veterans. Alcohol use and anger, also common among veterans, are both risk factors for violence. The present study used longitudinal data to examine relationships between these factors. METHOD: Post-9/11-era veterans ( RESULTS: The indirect effect of changes in alcohol use on violence via changes in anger was significant ( CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol use, anger, and violence are variables closely influencing one another. The association between changes in anger and subsequent violence was not mediated by changes in alcohol use. The association between changes in alcohol use and subsequent violence was mediated by changes in anger
however, this mediating effect disappeared when controlling for PTSD severity. These findings shed light on the importance of anger and PTSD as contributors to the relationship between alcohol use and violence. They suggest that assessing and treating anger may reduce violence among veterans with problematic alcohol use. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).