Demographic and psychosocial factors associated with adjustment and reintegration to civilian life: a prospective and cross-sectional analysis of transitioning and ex-serving military personnel

Abstract

The prevalence of reintegration and adjustment difficulties among military veterans transitioning to civilian life is high, with maladjustment linked to poor mental health and increased suicide risk. Identifying factors predictive of adjustment may inform the development of preventative screening and intervention strategies. This study aimed to determine significant demographic and psychosocial factors associated with adjustment and reintegration using both cross-sectional and prospective methods. A convenience sample of 866 transitioning and ex-serving military personnel completed demographic, service, and psychosocial questionnaires online. A subset provided responses before and after permanent separation from service. Binary logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association between key variables and self-reported adjustment and reintegration to civilian life. The effects of the predictor variables on the outcome variable were estimated by adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. For ex-serving participants, significant associations were found between adjustment/reintegration and gender ( p = .045), education level ( p = .031), marital status ( p = .022), rank at discharge ( p < .001), employment status ( p < .001), number of years since discharge ( p = .001), PTSD symptoms ( p < .001), purpose and connection ( p < .001), help seeking ( p = .019), and beliefs about civilians ( p < .001). For current serving participants, significant associations included employment status ( p < .001) anger and perceived failure ( p = .02) and feeling unprepared for civilian life ( p = .002). Veterans at higher risk of maladjustment include those who are unemployed or on a medical pension, are single, male, from lower ranks with lower education, and with higher symptoms of PTSD, higher levels of anger, feelings of failure, and feeling unprepared for the transition to civilian life prior to separation. Embedding population-level monitoring of this high-risk demographic group, along with individual-level screening and targeting of these factors may assist in improving adjustment and reintegration outcomes in this population.