Member Highlight: Dr. Drew Helmer, CEC Director and CEET Co-Lead
GC-CPEH CEC Director and CEET Co-lead Dr. Drew Helmer, together with colleagues Drs. Mhd Hasan Al Mekdash and Tarek Kandakji examined how concerns about toxic exposure contribute to veterans’ use of social media. The project was conducted through the Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness, and Safety (IQuESt) and the Military Exposures Research Program (MERP).
The study measured “military exposure burden” (MEB), defined as veterans’ concerns about potential occupational and environmental hazards, such as depleted uranium, jet fuel, and sandstorms. It also assessed patterns of social media use (SMU) across platforms.
Results showed that veterans with higher MEB were more likely to report greater SMU. Additional analysis revealed statistically significant differences in this relationship by sex and education level, after controlling for other variables. These findings suggest that demographic factors may further shape how concern about exposures influences social media behavior.
The study highlights the value of social media as a tool to reach veterans with information and support. In an era of growing digital misinformation, the findings underscore the importance of promoting digital literacy and developing targeted, evidence-based programs that meet the needs of the veteran community.
This study was partially supported by a GC-CPEH Pilot Project Award.