Transitioning to civilian life: The importance of social group engagement and identity among Australian Defence Force veterans. (August 2022)
- Record Type:
- Journal Article
- Title:
- Transitioning to civilian life: The importance of social group engagement and identity among Australian Defence Force veterans. (August 2022)
- Main Title:
- Transitioning to civilian life: The importance of social group engagement and identity among Australian Defence Force veterans
- Authors:
- Barnett, Anthony
Savic, Michael
Forbes, David
Best, David
Sandral, Emma
Bathish, Ramez
Cheetham, Alison
Lubman, Dan I - 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) that provided a visual component to the interviews. Interview transcripts were analysed thematically and interpreted by adopting a social identity approach. Results: Joining the military involved a process of socialisation into military culture that for most participants led to the development of a military identity. An abrupt or difficult discharge from defence was often associated with a negative impact on social group engagement and well-being in civilian life. Veterans' social group memberships may act not only as positive psychological resources during transition but also as a potential source of conflict, especially when trying to re-engage with civilian groups with different norms or beliefs. Military values inscribed within a veteran's sense of self, including a strong sense ofObjective: 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) that provided a visual component to the interviews. Interview transcripts were analysed thematically and interpreted by adopting a social identity approach. Results: Joining the military involved a process of socialisation into military culture that for most participants led to the development of a military identity. An abrupt or difficult discharge from defence was often associated with a negative impact on social group engagement and well-being in civilian life. Veterans' social group memberships may act not only as positive psychological resources during transition but also as a potential source of conflict, especially when trying to re-engage with civilian groups with different norms or beliefs. Military values inscribed within a veteran's sense of self, including a strong sense of service, altruism and giving back to their community, may operate as positive resources and promote social group engagement. Conclusion: Engaging with supportive social groups can support transition to civilian life. Reintegration may be improved via effective linkage with programmes (e.g. volunteering, ex-service support organisations) that offer supportive social networks and draw upon veterans' desire to give back to community. Social mapping tasks that visualise veterans' social group structures may be useful for clinicians to explore the roles and conflicts associated with veterans' social group memberships during transition. … (more)
- Is Part Of:
- Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry. Volume 56:Number 8(2022)
- Journal:
- Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry
- Issue:
- Volume 56:Number 8(2022)
- Issue Display:
- Volume 56, Issue 8 (2022)
- Year:
- 2022
- Volume:
- 56
- Issue:
- 8
- Issue Sort Value:
- 2022-0056-0008-0000
- Page Start:
- 1025
- Page End:
- 1033
- Publication Date:
- 2022-08
- Subjects:
- Veterans -- mental health -- alcohol and other drugs -- social identity -- Australia
Psychiatry -- Periodicals
Psychiatry -- Australia -- Periodicals
Psychiatry -- New Zealand -- Periodicals
616.89005 - Journal URLs:
- http://anp.sagepub.com ↗
http://informahealthcare.com/journal/anp ↗
http://www.uk.sagepub.com/home.nav ↗
http://firstsearch.oclc.org ↗
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/member/institutions/issuelist.asp?journal=anp ↗ - DOI:
- 10.1177/00048674211046894 ↗
- Languages:
- English
- ISSNs:
- 0004-8674
- Deposit Type:
- Legaldeposit
- View Content:
- Available online (eLD content is only available in our Reading Rooms) ↗
- Physical Locations:
- British Library DSC - 1796.893000
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- 21925.xml