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Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Veterans’ Experiences of Successfully Managing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
AU - Parry, Gemma
AU - Hodge, Suzanne
AU - Barrett, Alan
N1 - This article is (c) Emerald Group Publishing and permission has been granted for this version to appear here. Emerald does not grant permission for this article to be further copied/distributed or hosted elsewhere without the express permission from Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
PY - 2021/5/31
Y1 - 2021/5/31
N2 - Purpose Prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) amongst UK veterans is higher than in the general population. However, prevalence figures do not reflect the complexity of this phenomenon and ways in which it may be bound up with veterans’ experiences of adjusting to civilian life. The purpose of this study was to explore veterans’ experiences of successfully managing PTSD.Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six veterans who had served in the UK armed forces, and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis.Findings Three themes were developed: (1) accepting the problem, taking responsibility and gaining control; (2) talking to the right people; and (3) strategies, antidotes and circling back around. Managing PTSD appeared to be bound up with veterans’ experience of renegotiating their identity, where positive aspects of identity lost on leaving the military were rebuilt, and problematic aspects were challenged. Participants sought to speak about their difficulties with others who understood the military context. They felt that their experiences made them a valuable resource to others, and they connected this with a positive sense of identity and value. Practical implicationsThe findings suggest the importance of wider provision of peer support, and education for civilian health services on veterans’ needs.Originality/value This study adds to our understanding of what meaningful recovery from PTSD may involve for veterans, in particular its potential interconnectedness with the process of adjusting to civilian life.
AB - Purpose Prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) amongst UK veterans is higher than in the general population. However, prevalence figures do not reflect the complexity of this phenomenon and ways in which it may be bound up with veterans’ experiences of adjusting to civilian life. The purpose of this study was to explore veterans’ experiences of successfully managing PTSD.Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six veterans who had served in the UK armed forces, and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis.Findings Three themes were developed: (1) accepting the problem, taking responsibility and gaining control; (2) talking to the right people; and (3) strategies, antidotes and circling back around. Managing PTSD appeared to be bound up with veterans’ experience of renegotiating their identity, where positive aspects of identity lost on leaving the military were rebuilt, and problematic aspects were challenged. Participants sought to speak about their difficulties with others who understood the military context. They felt that their experiences made them a valuable resource to others, and they connected this with a positive sense of identity and value. Practical implicationsThe findings suggest the importance of wider provision of peer support, and education for civilian health services on veterans’ needs.Originality/value This study adds to our understanding of what meaningful recovery from PTSD may involve for veterans, in particular its potential interconnectedness with the process of adjusting to civilian life.
KW - Veterans
KW - military
KW - post-traumatic stress
KW - PTSD
KW - qualitative
KW - interpretative phenomenological analysis
KW - IPA
U2 - 10.1108/MHRJ-01-2020-0003
DO - 10.1108/MHRJ-01-2020-0003
M3 - Journal article
VL - 26
SP - 197
EP - 210
JO - Mental Health Review Journal
JF - Mental Health Review Journal
SN - 1361-9322
IS - 2
ER -