Reducing the Influence of Perceived Stress on Subjective Well-Being of Student Veterans With and Without Disabilities: The Protective Role of Positive Traits and Social Support

Abstract

The transition from the regimented environment of military service to a less structured college lifestyle can be stressful for student veterans with and without disabilities, which highlights the importance of exploring protective person-environmental contextual factors that can help student veterans with and without disabilities manage their stress effectively, leading to enhanced well-being. The purpose of this cross-sectional correlational design study was to examine the role of positive person-environment contextual factors, including hope, resilience, core self-evaluations, and social support, to reduce the influence of perceived stress on the subjective well-being (SWB) of student veterans with and without disabilities. The sample included 205 student veterans (71.7% males; 80.5% White; Mage = 29.32; 39% with service-connected disability). Findings suggested that core self-evaluations and social support partially mediated the relationship between perceived stress and SWB in student veterans with and without disabilities. Implications for clinicians, university counselors, and university staff are also discussed.

Drug Use Difficulties and Academic Adjustment in Student Veterans With Disabilities: A Parallel Mediation Study

“…Student veterans may experience challenges (e.g., drug use problems) completing their postsecondary education degree, which may negatively affect their academic life and outcomes (Umucu, 2017, 2022; Umucu, Lee, et al, 2021; Umucu, Lee et al, 2022; Umucu, Lo, et al, 2022). Therefore, our study has several implications for improving the understanding and support for veteran college students with disabilities, particularly those with substance use problems.…”

Employment and emotional well‐being in veterans with mental illness

“…Veteran population experiences a multitude of sociocultural, psychosocial, and socioeconomic barriers that impact their health and well‐being (Umucu, Chan, Phillips et al., 2022; Umucu, Ghosh et al., 2022; Umucu, Grenawalt et al., 2019; Umucu, Lee et al., 2023; Umucu, Lo et al., 2022; Umucu, Moser, & Bezyak, 2020). The objective of this study is to investigate whether employed veterans exhibit greater emotional well‐being outcomes in comparison to unemployed veterans, utilizing three distinct veteran sample groups.…”

“…Mental illness is prevalent within the veteran community due to exposure to traumatic events during combat and deployment (Grenawalt et al., 2021; Umucu, Lee et al., 2023). Notably, a study demonstrated that depression (13.5%) ranks as the most common mental health condition, followed by posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; 9.3%), substance use disorder (SUD; 8.3%), anxiety disorder (4.8%), and severe mental illness (SMI; 3.7%) (Trivedi et al., 2015).…”

Service-Connected Disability and Happiness in Student Veterans: A Parallel Mediation Study of PERMA

“…Emphasizing positive psychological traits to promote happiness in individuals with disabilities can further benefit rehabilitation research, clinical practice, and consumer experiences (Chou et al, 2013; Dunn & Dougherty, 2005). Therefore, rehabilitation researchers and practitioners have been advocating for a paradigm shift from examining deficits in disability to focusing on positive psychosocial factors, including happiness (Chou et al, 2013; Dunn & Dougherty, 2005; Dunn et al, 2009; Fortuna et al, 2020; Huck et al, 2022; Grenawalt et al, 2022; Lee, 2022; Lee, Rumrill, et al, 2022; Lee, Rumril, Tansey, 2022; Moser et al, 2020; Phillips et al, 2022; Sánchez et al, 2019; Umucu, Lee, Berwick, et al, 2022; Umucu, Reyes, Carrola, et al, 2021; Umucu, Tansey, et al, 2021; Umucu, Wu, et al, 2020).…”