Effects of Perceived Public Regard on the Well-Being of Military Veterans

Abstract

Many military veterans face considerable challenges reintegrating into civilian life. Evidence suggests the general public holds conflicting attitudes toward veterans. This study examines how perceived public attitudes play a role in veterans’ mental health and well-being. Drawing from and extending interactionist theories of self-concept, stigma, and mental health recovery, we develop and estimate models for the relationships between internalized public attitudes toward veterans (perceived public regard), military identity–related self-worth (private regard), and well-being (depression, self-efficacy, and life satisfaction). Using survey data from the Chicagoland Veterans Study, we found that perceived public regard is negatively related to depression and positively related to self-efficacy and life satisfaction. The relationship between public regard and self-efficacy is fully mediated by private regard, and a significant part of the relationship between perceived public regard and both depression and life satisfaction is mediated by private regard. The study suggests avenues for extending theory and research related to military identity and public understanding of veterans as well as other groups where there may be conflicting public sentiment toward them.

Post-locked down mental wellbeing among Malaysian adults: factors of life satisfaction in urban Malaysia

“…Every path of this model was consistent with the previous findings. The significance of mattering in predicting SWL had been reported by previous studies since before the pandemic [12], [15], as well as our findings that mattering predicts PSS [24]- [26]. Another study during the lockdown in Malaysia also yielded the same findings that PSS partially mediated the link between mattering and SWL [21].…”

“…By definition, mattering is a construct that measures how much we feel we matter to others [14]. Mattering was reported as a significant predictor of SWL before the pandemic [12], [15]. Consistently, a study on the formation of SWL during the lockdown in the Malaysian context reported that mattering was a robust significant predictor of SWL, partially mediated by perceived social inclusion among individuals with low and moderate levels of extraversion [16].…”

Wounded warriors: Multiple identities, physical activity and life satisfaction

“…However, the current study extends this finding to military veterans and supports the promotion of sport programing to veterans. The positive link between a military identity and life satisfaction while in line with some research (Markowitz et al, 2019) contradicts other research, and a persuasive argument about the negative role of any identity when participants are no longer able to occupy or live a life commensurate with that identity. The most common reason for why a strong military identity may be maladaptive is because veterans no longer fill a military role.…”

Lifetime trauma, mental health, alcohol and help-seeking; the phenomenological experience of veterans residing in Northern Ireland

“…Generally, the lack of appreciation is not unique across extant global armed forces community literature. Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have had hostility directed towards them due to opinions over those military campaigns (45)(46)(47) . Yet, the sense of hostility and disfavour directed at NI veterans is connected to them being representatives of the Crown and not a particular military campaign.…”

“…The negativity is perceived to feel a lot more personal, especially among those who served with the UDR. Experiencing a poor sense of self-appreciation, due to public perceptions/interactions, is concerning as it may lead to worse mental health outcomes and fuel self-marginalisation (45) .…”