Barriers and supports affecting wellness and academic success of student service members and veterans: An exploration using photo elicitation

Abstract

Objective: This study investigated supports and barriers to academic success and wellness for college student service members and veterans (SSM/V) attending a metropolitan university. Participants and Methods: Two student service members/veterans took three-five photographs depicting their daily experiences over one-three weeks across two academic years. Photo elicitation interviews were conducted to obtain the meaning of these experiences in relation to wellness. Results: Despite initial challenges regarding integration to the college context, participants demonstrated an evolution of positive growth in dimensions of wellness, including the development of new social networks, leisure interests, health habits, and strategies for academic success. Challenges to physical wellness included injuries incurred during deployment that posed temporary barriers to activity engagement. Conclusions: The Transition Theory of Schlossberg, Waters and Goodman provides a framework for understanding the transition of SSM/V, including recommendations for resources relative to the situation, the self, social support, and coping strategies.¹

Keywords:

• Transition
• academic success
• wellness
• college student service members and veterans

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 and received approval from the Towson University.

Additional information

Funding

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