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Prior research has examined the independent effects of demographic and military characteristics, trauma history, and coping resources on military veterans' health. However, there is limited knowledge of how these factors intersect with one another and with veterans' health to impact their broader well‐being as they readjust to civilian life. Data for this study were drawn from a longitudinal investigation of the health and broader well‐being of U.S. veterans (N = 7150) who had recently left military service. Machine learning analyses (random forests of regression trees) were used to examine how factors assessed shortly after military separation were associated with veterans' well‐being approximately a year later. Veterans who endorsed the combination of low depression, high social support, and high psychological resilience were most likely to report high well‐being a year later. Neither demographic and military characteristics nor trauma history emerged as strong predictors of veterans' well‐being when considered in the context of other factors. Although most predictors were similar for women and men, depression was a stronger predictor of women's well‐being. Results highlight the importance of screening for and intervening with veterans who report high depression, low social support, and low psychological resilience when leaving military service. These findings can inform efforts to promote veterans' post‐military well‐being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developmental theory indicates that success during a major life change requires attention to multiple life domains (e.g., physical health, mental health, employment, financial, and social). This study presents a revised conceptual framework and offers a new empirical model to assess the well-being of post-9/11 veterans as they transition to civilian life. Data from a large sample of post-9/11 veterans surveyed over 2.5 years revealed that post-9/11 veteran transitions were mixed: veterans improved over time in some domains (e.g., employment), stagnated in some (e.g., social), and struggled more over time in others (e.g., physical health). Even in domains with improvement, a large percent of veterans still struggled (e.g., 34% struggled with mental health at Wave 6). Moreover, certain groups tended to struggle more (e.g., enlisted, women, people of color). The conceptual framework and empirical model are intended to stimulate discussion on how best to understand, evaluate, and support veterans’ military-to-civilian transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moral injury (MI) may occur in the context of committing transgressions (i.e., self-directed MI reactions), witnessing transgressions, or being the victims of others' transgressions (i.e., other-directed MI reactions) that violate an individual's moral principles. Veterans with MI may experience impaired social well-being (SWB). Studies on MI and veterans' SWB have focused almost exclusively on social support and used cross-sectional data. The present study used growth curve analyses to examine the associations between self- and other-directed MI reactions and veterans' levels of social support, social functioning, social activities, and social satisfaction over the first 18 to 21 months of their transition to civilian life (N = 9,566). The results demonstrated declines in all SWB outcomes, with self- and other-directed MI reactions having differential effects. Higher versus lower levels of other-directed MI reactions were related to lower baseline scores on all SWB outcomes, βs = -.06 to -.20, and steeper declines over time in social functioning, β = -.09, and social satisfaction, β = -.10. Higher versus lower levels of self-directed MI reactions were related to lower baseline levels of social functioning, β = -.07, but higher baseline levels of social activity, β = .04. Higher versus lower levels of self-directed MI reactions were related to a steeper decline in social activity over time, β = -.10. These findings present a more nuanced picture than that depicted by current MI theoretical frameworks and support further research to uncover moderators of the associations between self- and other-directed MI reactions and SWB outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A substantial minority of veterans struggle as they reintegrate into civilian life, reporting problems with vocational attainment, legal/financial/housing challenges, physical and mental health conditions, and social/interpersonal issues. While there are thousands of programs and services offered to veterans, little is known about which ones they use. In the current exploratory study, veterans separated from active duty in the prior three-months (48,965) were invited to complete a survey. Two primary questions were addressed: What programs/services did veterans use to assist in their reintegration to civilian life? What specific components/attributes of those programs did veterans report using? A total of 9566 veterans completed the survey. Approximately, two-thirds of veterans used at least one program to enhance their well-being, while one-third reported using multiple programs across multiple domains. Veterans primarily sought assistance for employment and educational advancement. Fewer veterans sought assistance for legal/financial/housing, health, and social functioning challenges. Social service providers and policy makers should be aware of the resources veterans use as they reintegrate into civilian life. Future research should examine factors that predict the use and nonuse of veteran reintegration programs, how use changes over time, and what factors predict program/service use, particularly among veterans at risk for poor transition outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The negative effects of military work-related parental absences on military families and military children in particular have been detailed in the literature. Family adjustment to increased stress during deployment is influenced by the family's perceptions of the stressors. In the study reported in this article, military spouses (N = 79) were interviewed so researchers could gain an understanding of the spouses' perceptions of the effects (for example, concerns, unmet needs) of military work-related parental absences on the overall family system and could identify contextual risk and protective factors that contribute to the well-being of children in military families. Results are presented as percentages of spouses' theme responses and exemplary quotes. Unmet needs included individual child counseling, parental-absence support programs, age-specific programming for children, child care needs, availability of parenting programs, lack of awareness of programs for students and parents, and supports for exceptional family members. Recommendations for schools to meet these unmet needs are provided following a tiered support framework to better support military families during parental absences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We developed and validated the Well‐Being Inventory (WBI) to address the need for a tool that can provide a comprehensive assessment of key aspects of military veterans' lives. This multidimensional instrument assesses status, functioning, and satisfaction with regard to vocation, finances, health, and social relationships. Methods: Two large multi‐phase studies (Study 1 Ns = 301, 286; Study 2 Ns = 9,566, 7,342) were conducted to develop and validate this tool among military veterans. Results: Confirmatory factor analyses supported the proposed factor structure, with separate factors observed for all scales except the health functioning scale, which was best represented as three factors rather than a single factor. Cronbach's alphas were satisfactory, with an average alpha of 0.86. Most WBI measures discriminated among individuals with and without mental health conditions and demonstrated expected declines among those with a new mental health condition. Conclusions: This study provides initial evidence for the reliability, validity, and sensitivity to change of the WBI. This tool can be used to provide insight into areas in which military veterans would benefit from additional support and inform efforts to promote the well‐being of this population. Given its broad focus, it may also prove useful with other civilian populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the relations among three different types of naturally occurring social support (from romantic partners, friends and neighbors, and unit leaders) and three indices of service member well-being (self reports of depressive symptoms, satisfaction with military life, and perceptions of unit readiness) for service members who did and did not report negative experiences associated with military deployment. Data were drawn from the 2011 Community Assessment completed anonymously by more than 63,000 USAF personnel. Regression analyses revealed that higher levels of social support was associated with better outcomes regardless of negative deployment experiences. Evidence of moderation was also noted, with all forms of social support moderating the impact of negative deployment experiences on depressive symptoms and support from unit leaders moderating the impact of negative deployment experience on satisfaction with military life. No moderation was found for perceptions of unit readiness. Subgroup analyses revealed slightly different patterns for male and female service members, with support providing fewer moderation effects for women. These findings may have value for military leaders and mental health professionals working to harness the power of naturally occurring relationships to maximize the positive adjustment of service members and their families. Implications for practices related to re-integration of post-deployment military personnel are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the benefits and disadvantages of participation in organized youth sports and describes a youth development approach to sports programming. The authors summarize what is known about the physical, socioemotional, and cognitive benefits of sports participation. These include health benefits (for example, a reduction in heart disease and diabetes) as well as socioemotional benefits, among them the coping skills of being able to bounce back from problems. The authors describe some of the disadvantages of participation as well. In particular, studies in this area have focused on health risk behaviors and engagement in problem behaviors. The authors present an innovative approach to youth sports and the advantages of implementing this approach using the emerging community youth development framework. Specific examples of youth sports programs are provided that use a positive youth development framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Financial programs may help veterans who have problematic financial status (PFS). As they support veterans, they improve their ability to meet their immediate financial needs (IFN) and financial satisfaction (FS) after their military-to-civilian transition. This study examined the use of financial programs and distilled them into their content components and the processes by which content components are delivered. This study examined the degree to which the use of specific content and process components resulted in changes in IFN and FS over the first 30–33 months after the transition. Financial content components, including investment, budgeting, homeownership, accessing benefits, and credit-score information, were associated with either improved IFN or FS. Interactive tools were often a significant process component associated with the above content components. These findings can assist program developers and practitioners in promoting the use of content and process components that may aid veterans who are experiencing PFS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study examined the health and well-being of U.S. veterans during the first year after military service and tested several hypotheses regarding differences in veterans' well-being over time, across life domains, and based on sex, military rank, and deployment history.Methods: A national sample of 9,566 veterans was recruited from a roster of all separating U.S. service members in the fall of 2016. Veterans' status, functioning, and satisfaction with regard to their health, work, and social relationships were assessed within 3 months of separation and then 6 months later. Analyses were completed in 2019.Results: Health concerns were most salient for newly separated veterans, with many veterans reporting that they had chronic physical (53%) or mental (33%) health conditions and were less satisfied with their health than either their work or social relationships. By contrast, most veterans reported relatively high vocational and social well-being and only work functioning demonstrated a notable decline in the first year following separation. Enlisted personnel reported consistently poorer health, vocational, and social outcomes compared with their officer counterparts, whereas war zone-deployed veterans reported more health concerns and women endorsed more mental health concerns compared with their nondeployed and male peers.Conclusions: Although most newly separated veterans experience high vocational and social well-being as they reintegrate into civilian life, findings point to the need for additional attention to the health of separating service members and bolstered support for enlisted personnel to prevent the development of chronic readjustment challenges within this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholars have theorized that the initial period after military discharge may be a particularly vulnerable time for veterans. Yet, several recent studies raise the prospect that risk for poor adjustment may actually increase rather than decrease over time. The current study examined whether the U.S. military veteran population experiences improvements or declines in their health and broader well-being during the first three years after leaving military service and documented differences based on gender, military rank, and warzone deployment history. A population-based sample of 3733 newly separated veterans completed a survey within three months of separation (Fall 2016), followed by five additional surveys at six-month intervals. Weighted multilevel logistic regressions were conducted to examine changes in the proportion of veterans reporting good health and broader well-being over time. Most aspects of veterans' health and broader well-being worsened over time, with a noteworthy increase in reporting of mental health conditions and a decline in veterans' community involvement. Declines in the proportion of veterans reporting good health and well-being were most notable for women, with smaller differences observed for other subgroups. The finding that veterans experienced worsening health and broader well-being over time highlights the need for enhanced prevention and early intervention efforts to mitigate these declines. Findings also point to the importance of attending to the unique readjustment concerns of female veterans and other at-risk subgroups. • The proportion of veterans reporting poor outcomes increased over time. • Female veterans were at greater risk for declines in health and broader well-being. • Results highlight the value of bolstering support for new military veterans. • Prevention and intervention efforts should target at-risk veteran subgroups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]