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VETERANS’ PERSPECTIVES ON THE MEANING OF THEIR WELL-BEING EXPERIENCE: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL INQUIRY
| Title: | VETERANS’ PERSPECTIVES ON THE MEANING OF THEIR WELL-BEING EXPERIENCE: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL INQUIRY. |
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| Name(s): |
Birmingham, Cheryl Lynn , author Chiang-Hanisko, Lenny , Thesis advisor Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing |
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| Type of Resource: | text | |
| Genre: | Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation | |
| Date Created: | 2023 | |
| Date Issued: | 2023 | |
| Publisher: | Florida Atlantic University | |
| Place of Publication: | Boca Raton, Fla. | |
| Physical Form: | application/pdf | |
| Extent: | 216 p. | |
| Language(s): | English | |
| Abstract/Description: | The veterans are a unique community shaped by past military experiences that may have positive and negative effects on their well-being as soldiers. With nearly half of the 18.4 million veterans in the United States living beyond 61 years, age-related physical and mental health conditions may impact the veterans’ well-being. Promoting veterans’ well-being has been studied extensively but literature on how they define it is scanty. It is critical to understand how veterans define well-being to inform future program development to address mental health needs. The purpose of this study is to discover the meaning and the lived experience of well-being among veterans. The methodology used for this study was a qualitative hermeneutic interpretative phenomenological approach to understand the meaning of veterans’ well-being. It allowed the phenomena to surface while exposing the essence of and the experience. The sampling method for recruiting participants was purposive sampling, with semi structured interviews conducted via ZOOM and direct observations at Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs) to obtain data. Fourteen veterans participated in this study, comprising eight males and six females with majority aged over 61 years. In terms of race/ethnicity, 64 % were White, 21% Hispanic and 15 % African American. With the use of Max van Manen’s analysis strategy, seven major themes emerged: (a) A Connection With A Special Bond To The Military Sisterhood/Brotherhood, (b) The Lingering Effects Of Military Service Continue To Simmer In Veteran life, (c) Feeling Grateful/Prideful Through Appreciation For Their Military Service, (d) Healthy Companionships/Relationships With Mutual Respect Yield Veteran Equilibrium, (e) Creating A Veteran Framily/Fraternity, (f) Self-fulfilment By Giving Back And Making A Life With A Purpose and (g) Veterans Living A Healthy Life Caring For Self. Six of the seven themes addressed the veterans’ well-being. The lingering effects have persisted and challenged the Veterans’ emotional well-being. However, they were able to express their military camaraderie even in the veterans’ life. Programs based on social relationships that allow connections with veterans and/or their significant others need to be established. | |
| Identifier: | FA00014317 (IID) | |
| Degree granted: | Dissertation (PhD)--Florida Atlantic University, 2023. | |
| Collection: | FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection | |
| Note(s): | Includes bibliography. | |
| Subject(s): |
Veterans Veterans--Mental health Well-being Caring |
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| Persistent Link to This Record: | http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014317 | |
| Use and Reproduction: | Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder. | |
| Host Institution: | FAU |
