An assessment of sense of belonging in higher education among student service members/veterans

Abstract

Background

The health, well-being, and integration of student service members/veterans (SSM/Vs) into higher education has become a growing focal point for college health practitioners and researchers. Methods: Secondary data analysis of “Campus Climate and Culture” module of the Healthy Minds Study (HMS), which included 8211 students. Analyses examined whether military status was associated with sense of belonging. Results: The relationship between military-affiliation and sense of belonging (low versus high) was statistically significant [χ² (2, 8211) = 10.855, p < 0.01], such that 42% of SSM/V reported low sense of belonging compared to their Reservist (33%) and civilian (28%) counterparts. Even after controlling for age, sex, year in school, and grade point average, SSM/V status (OR = 0.16, Wald = 6.17; p < 0.05), was negatively associated with sense of belonging. Conclusions: Results highlight a need for strategic college health initiatives to foster institutional inclusion and cohort building among SSM/V in higher education.

Keywords:

• Health
• military
• sense of belonging
• student service member
• veteran

Acknowledgment

All authors have meaningfully contributed to the development or this manuscript.

Conflict of interest disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report. The authors confirm that the research presented in this article met the ethical guidelines, including adherence to the legal requirements, of the United States of America. Given this investigation was a secondary analysis of deidentified data, it was exempt from Institutional Review Board review.

Funding

No funding was used to support this research and/or the preparation of the manuscript.