The association between early life trauma and veteran reintegration to civilian life
Research Report:
Research SummaryAPA Citation:
Mendez, P. M., Slifka, L. M., Daniels, L. B., & Hansen, C. (2023). The association between early life trauma and veteran reintegration to civilian life. Military Behavioral Health. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/21635781.2023.2267434
Abstract Created by REACH:
For Veterans with early life trauma – including those who enlisted to escape such difficulties – reintegration into civilian life may be especially challenging. In this study, 257 Veterans self-reported early life trauma (i.e., physical and emotional neglect and abuse, sexual abuse), general community reintegration difficulty (e.g., getting along with their relatives, partner, children), specific readjustment challenges (e.g., intimate relationship problems, career challenges, posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD] symptoms, social difficulties, health concerns), and the extent to which their desire to escape early trauma influenced their decision to join the military. In general, more severe abuse experiences were consistently related to more community reintegration difficulty and readjustment challenges.
Focus:
Veterans
Trauma
Branch of Service:
Multiple branches
Air Force
Army
Coast Guard
Marine Corps
Navy
Military Affiliation:
Veteran
Subject Affiliation:
Veteran
Population:
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
Aged (65 yrs & older)
Methodology:
Cross-Sectional Study
Quantitative Study
Authors:
Mendez, Patrick M., Slifka, Laurie M., Daniels, Lori B., Hansen, Cheri
Abstract:
The rate of early life trauma (ELT) is higher among military service members than civilians. While ELT is associated with higher post-traumatic stress disorder following deployment, it is unknown whether other reintegration difficulties are associated with various types of ELT. The present study investigated the relationship between ELT and reintegration difficulties among veterans. Additionally, the influence of the desire to escape ELT as enlistment motivation on this relationship was examined. Data were obtained from 257 veterans between the ages of 20 and 76 years who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during the Global War on Terrorism. Results revealed a significant positive relationship between emotional abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and physical neglect with veterans’ reintegration difficulties. Additionally, enlisting as motivation to escape ELT significantly influenced the relationship between emotional abuse and physical neglect with intimate relationship problems and career challenges, respectively. These findings help facilitate our understanding of factors contributing to reintegration difficulties. In particular, information about the individual history of veterans’ ELT and their enlistment motivation can be used by social workers and other mental health care professionals to successfully assist veterans with the transition to civilian life.
Publisher/Sponsoring Organization:
Routledge
Publication Type:
Article
REACH Publication
Keywords:
veteran reintegration, military transition, reintegration challenges, child abuse, child neglect, early life trauma, mental health, childhood maltreatment, post-deployment, enlistment motivation, world
REACH Publication Type:
Research Summary
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