Barriers and supports affecting wellness and academic success of student service members and veterans: An exploration using photo elicitation.
This study investigated supports and barriers to academic success and wellness for college student service members and veterans (SSM/V) attending a metropolitan university. Participants and Methods: Two student service members/veterans took three-five photographs depicting their daily experiences over one-three weeks across two academic years. Photo elicitation interviews were conducted to obtain the meaning of these experiences in relation to wellness. Results: Despite initial challenges regarding integration to the college context, participants demonstrated an evolution of positive growth in dimensions of wellness, including the development of new social networks, leisure interests, health habits, and strategies for academic success. Challenges to physical wellness included injuries incurred during deployment that posed temporary barriers to activity engagement. Conclusions: The Transition Theory of Schlossberg, Waters and Goodman provides a framework for understanding the transition of SSM/V, including recommendations for resources relative to the situation, the self, social support, and coping strategies.1.
['Yeager|Jenna|J|']
wellness academic success college student service members and veterans Transition