The Association Between Reintegration, Perceptions of Health and Flourishing During Transition from Military to Civilian Life Among Veterans with Invisible Injuries

Bibliographic Data

ID22158244
AuthorsNicholas A Rattray (0000-0002-9683-889X, Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, corresponding author), Mindy Flanagan (0000-0002-7146-5628, Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center), Michelle P Salyers (0000-0001-7152-6454, Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis, corresponding author), Michelle Salyers, Diana Natividad (Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center), Ai-Nghia Do (Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center), Richard M Frankel (0000-0003-4132-4506, Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center), Katrina Spontak (Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center), Marina Kukla (0000-0001-6245-7565, Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume9
Issue1
Pages224-234
Publication date2023-07-05
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Veterans Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2470-4768 • E-ISSN: 2470-4768
PublisherVirginia Tech Libraries (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.21061/jvs.v9i1.432
OpenAlexW4383567632
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited43

Veterans with mental health or cognitive conditions who are separating from military service often face challenges transitioning to civilian life. However, questions remain about the relationship between reintegration and key psychosocial and well-being outcomes for veteran populations with invisible injuries soon after military separation. We investigated cross-sectional relationships between reintegration difficulties and health and well-being outcomes based on data from standardized measures with 75 US veterans. Reintegration difficulties were associated with low mental health functioning, lower social support, and lower flourishing. Reporting fewer perceived limitations with reintegration was positively associated with physical functioning, and higher levels of participation were positively associated with social support. Findings from this study suggest that among post-9/11 military veterans with mental health or cognitive conditions, fewer difficulties with reintegration are associated with greater social support, higher mental health-related quality of life, and lower levels of post-traumatic stress and somatic symptoms

Flourishing · Mental health · Military personnel · Psychiatry · Psychosocial · Social support · Clinical Psychology · Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout · Medicine · Migration, Health and Trauma · Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research · Psychology · Social Psychology · Gerontology