Emotion regulation and reintegration: a mixed-methods study on UK military veterans

Abstract

The transition of non-clinically diagnosed UK veterans from military to civilian life remains underexplored in particularly in areas such as, emotional adjustment, and emotion valence. Drawing on the Circumplex Model of Arousal and Valence, this study conceptualises arousal as the level of emotional activation and valence as its positive or negative quality. A mixed-methods design was employed. Ninety-three UK veterans (≥7 years' service; ≥6 months post-discharge) with no current mental health diagnoses completed the valence-specific ERQ-PN online, with non-parametric analyses examining age and discharge-related differences. Fourteen participants then took part in semi-structured interviews analysed using Braun and Clarke's six-phase reflexive thematic approach. Results from the ERQ-PN demonstrated frequent endorsement of negative expressive suppression, with positive suppression least endorsed. Older veterans reported higher negative reappraisal than younger participants, and time since discharge was weakly associated with greater negative reappraisal. The thematic analysis identified four intersecting patterns: enduring military-conditioned suppression, increasing regulatory flexibility, valence-specific adaptations, and emotional regulation illiteracy. Consistent with Gross's Extended Process Model, successful reintegration appears to depend on valence-sensitive regulatory flexibility rather than abandoning suppression. A focus on emotional literacy is recommended to enhance support during transition to civilian life. These findings offer practical implications for policy, intervention design, and future longitudinal research.