Sanctions, Support & Service Leavers: Welfare conditionality and transitions from military to civilian life. First-wave findings.
Abstract: This report presents the first-wave findings of an ongoing project funded by the Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT) called Sanctions, Support and Service Leavers: Welfare conditionality and transitions from military to civilian life. The overall aim of this project is to provide the first substantive qualitative research that focuses specifically on how veterans and their families experience the mainstream social security benefits system as part of their transition to civilian life.
Abstract:United States military veterans face challenges when reintegrating into civilian society. Among these difficulties often exist barriers for veterans in navigating work and career experiences. This study tested factors that may contribute to experiences of decent work and reintegration in a sample of 90 United States veterans. Utilizing the Psychology of Working Theory as a framework, veterans' social support was hypothesized to be a moderating factor in the relationship between veterans' experiences of marginalization and decent work. Additionally, decent work was examined as a potential mediator in the association between veterans' career adaptability and reintegration. Separate moderation and mediation models were tested to examine the study's hypotheses. Results did not find social support to moderate the relationship between marginalization and decent work. However, decent work significantly and partially mediated the relationship between career adaptability and reintegration. Interpretation of these findings in the context of the literature is discussed, as well as implications for practice and theory, limitations, and future directions.