Combat exposure undermines student veterans’ achievement of a meaningful life through its association with health-related symptoms: A longitudinal study

Abstract

Objective: To understand whether symptoms of health conditions explain the negative association between combat exposure and student Veterans’ achievement of a meaningful life. Participants: 153 combat Veterans enrolled in college between November 2013 and April 2018. Methods: Through an online survey, participants reported combat exposure, health status (symptoms of conditions such as depression), and aspects of a meaningful life (belonging, self-understanding, and doing) at two time points. Path analysis was used to explore whether baseline health status mediated the relationship between combat exposure and belonging, self-understanding, and doing at follow-up. Results: Indirect effects indicated that the negative influence of combat on student Veterans’ sense of belonging, self-understanding, and doing at follow-up was mediated by poor health at baseline. Conclusions: Combat exposure may contribute to the development of health conditions, which in turn limit student Veterans’ experience of three aspects of a meaningful life: a sense of belonging, self-understanding, and doing.

Keywords:

• Combat exposure
• meaning in life
• psychological wellbeing
• service-related health conditions
• student Veterans

Acknowledgments

At the time that this work was completed, the first author was a PhD Candidate in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Colorado State University. The authors would like to thank the student service members and Veterans for expending valuable time and effort to participate in this research.

Conflict of interest disclosure

The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, or the U.S. government.

Additional information

Funding

Funding for this study was provided through Philanthropic Support of the NSSV Program by a private donor, and through the Center for Meaning and Purpose at Colorado State University.