Mixed methods study examining work reintegration experiences from perspectives of Veterans with mental health disorders.
Recent findings have demonstrated that reintegration for Veterans is often challenging. One difficult aspect of reintegration—transitioning into the civilian workplace—has not been fully explored in the literature. To address this gap and examine work reintegration, this mixed methods study examined the perspectives of Veterans with mental health disorders receiving Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare. Forty Veterans rated factors that affect work success; participants also provided narratives on their most and least successful work experiences. We used t-tests and qualitative analysis to compare participants who did and did not serve in combat. Several themes relevant to work reintegration emerged in the narratives, particularly for Veterans who served in combat. An array of work difficulties were reported in the months following military discharge. In addition, Veterans who served in combat reported significantly more work barriers than Veterans who did not serve in combat, particularly health-related barriers. In conclusion, Veterans with mental health disorders who served in combat experienced more work reintegration difficulty than their counterparts who did not serve in combat. The role of being a Veteran affected how combat Veterans formed their self-concept, which also shaped their work success and community reintegration, especially during the early transition period.
['Kukla|Marina|M|', 'Rattray|Nicholas A|NA|', 'Salyers|Michelle P|MP|']
D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D005260:Female D006801:Humans D008297:Male D001523:Mental Disorders D008875:Middle Aged D062707:Return to Work D012649:Self Concept D012917:Social Adjustment D012959:Socioeconomic Factors D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires D014481:United States D014728:Veterans
work reintegration Veterans mental health combat self-concept transition employment posttraumatic stress disorder severe mental illness