Postmilitary Adjustment to Civilian Life: Potential Risks and Protective Factors

Abstract

Postmilitary adjustment to civilian life appears to be multidimensional, suggesting the need for multidisciplinary collaboration between physical therapists and other service providers to mitigate difficult transition. Potential risk and protective factors were identified that can inform interventions, outreach strategies, and screening activities, as well as further research.

Assessing the Relationship between Current Mental Health, Health Conditions,and Activity Limitations in Veterans Aged 25 and Older in the General Population

“…Because not all veterans use Veteran Affair Services [12], it is important that civilian practitioners know about the relations among mental health, physical health, and activity limitations in this target population. Also, because mental health, physical health, and activity limitations are moderately-to highly-related, it is important that civilian providers screen for and treat these concurrently, which may require the coordination of efforts across various medical domains [7,[13][14][15].…”

Go Back to the Beginning: Career Development and the Challenges of Transitioning from the Military to Civilian Employment

“…The transition experiences of veterans are often complex, and a successful transition requires a portfolio of supports and programs, encompassing action from many stakeholders, including the military, government, employer groups, non-government organisations such as veteran's associations, education and training institutions to address potential risks and protective factors [57]. As with education to employment transitions, the remedial process is not homogeneous in terms of the personal characteristics of those transitioning (education, skills, age, years of service, disability, location) [3], and requires co-ordination across many authorities and stakeholder groups.…”

An Exploration of Transition Experiences Shaping Student Veteran Life Flow

“…Table 3.1: Demographics of Respondents .........................................................................46 Table 3.2: Coping Mechanisms Reported by Student Veterans Experiencing an Adult Transition: Percentages .....................................................................................................48 Table 4.1: Grand Research Question,and Interview Questions............................................................................................................................73 Table 4.2: Participant Characteristics ..............................................................................77 Table 4.3: Example Participant Statements for the civilian community after active duty service, though the transition may not be "seamless" for veterans with combat service in Iraq and Afghanistan (Quillen-Armstrong, 2007;Stiglitz & Blimes, 2008, p. 68). The transition is a complex process encompassing multiple dimensions that influence veteran perceptions of reintegration or re-entry into civilian life (MacLean et al, 2014). The majority of service members with combat exposure return to civilian life with minimal long-term problems, however, 44% report difficulties transitioning into civilian life (Morin, 2011) with the prevalence of readjustment problems such as social functioning, productivity, and self-care ranging from 25 to 54 percent (Sayer et al, 2010).…”