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Veterans returning to civilian life face a myriad of challenges reintegrating into society. One challenge is the extent to which they are able to discover a new sense of belongingness as civilians. Current research has shown that social support has been identified as a critical component of trauma recovery and can positively impact health outcomes. Social support can teach resiliency, adaptive coping, alleviate the impact of stress, and help lessen the severity of psychopathology and symptoms associated with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. However, research has also indicated that the types of social support received by men and women can differ. Thus, the approaches used to socially integrate male and female veterans may need to differ as well. This research aims to highlight feelings of social connectedness in female and male veterans.
Methods:
Utilizing a cross sectional study design, a survey was distributed to veterans living in the Chicagoland area (N= 1,294). Social connectedness was measured using the Social Connectedness Scale, an 8 item scale that asks respondents to rate how connected they feel to the community around them. In the sample, 86% of the veterans were male and 14% were female. Veterans were from various ethnic backgrounds with the majority being White (66.9%), Black (16.0%), or Latino (11.8%). Within the sample, 63% identified as serving before 9/11 (pre-9/11 veterans) while 38% identified as having served after 9/11 (post-9/11 veterans). All service branches were represented, with the Army as the most represented branch for both pre-9/11 (54%) and post-9/11 (48%) participants. The largest group of pre-9/11 participants were male (92%) and 60 years or older (62%). The majority of post-9/11 participants were also male (76%) and were aged between 18 and 39 (71%). Of the participants reporting they had a four-year degree, 48% were pre-9/11 participants and 55% were post-9/11 veterans.
Results:
Analysis revealed that 20.6% of pre-9/11 male veterans and 50.1% of pre-9/11 female veterans feel like even around people they know they feel as though they do not belong and 46.4% of post-9/11 male 51.5% of female veterans also affirmed this item. When asked to report whether they feel distant from people, 21.4% of male and 42.0% of female pre-9/11 veterans and 46.5% of male and 50.5% of female post-9/11 veterans endorsed this item. Analysis further revealed that 20.1% of pre-9/11 male veterans and 38.8% of female pre-9/11 veterans feel as if they have no sense of togetherness with their peers and 43% males and 44.4% of female post-9/11 veterans also agreed.
Conclusions:
Findings suggest that more research is needed to better understand why veterans feel socially disconnected. As programs focus on targeting service members at transition, interventions should address challenges to social connectedness. Gender appropriate interventions should also be considered, given the different experiences, needs and perceptions of female veterans’ status. Addressing ways in which veterans can form new feelings of belongingness post service may have a positive impact on veterans overall well-being and mental health and can help inform transition and reintegration services.