Journal article
Transitioning to civilian life: The importance of social group engagement and identity among Australian Defence Force veterans
A Barnett, M Savic, D Forbes, D Best, E Sandral, R Bathish, A Cheetham, DI Lubman
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry | Published : 2022
Abstract
Objective: Veterans transitioning to civilian life after leaving the military face unique health concerns. Although there is a significant body of research exploring veterans’ experiences of transition and predictors of well-being, there are limited studies examining how social group engagement influences veterans’ transition. We explored how Australian Defence Force veterans’ social group engagement and identity influenced their adjustment to civilian life and well-being. Methods: Forty Australian veterans (85% male; mean age = 37 years, range = 25–57 years) took part in in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Participants completed two mapping tasks (a social network map and life course map)..
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Funding Acknowledgements
The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship and/or publication of this article: This study was funded by the Defence Health Foundation.