Aaron M Eakman1, Catherine Schelly2, Kimberly L Henry3. 1. Aaron M. Eakman, PhD, OTR/L, is Assistant Professor and Director of Research, New Start for Student Veterans, Department of Occupational Therapy, Colorado State University, Fort Collins; aaron.eakman@colostate.edu. 2. Catherine Schelly, MEd, OTR/L, FAOTA, is Assistant Professor and Director, New Start for Student Veterans, Department of Occupational Therapy, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. 3. Kimberly L. Henry, PhD, is Associate Professor, Department of Psychology and the Colorado School of Public Health, Colorado State University, Fort Collins.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine differences in psychosocial protective factors (social support, meaningful occupation, and academic self-efficacy) and health-related vulnerability factors (posttraumatic stress, depression, and somatic symptoms) contributing to resilience in post-9/11 veterans with service-related injuries and nonveterans in postsecondary education. METHOD: A cross-sectional, matched-participants design using propensity score matching was used to test differences in mean levels of protective and vulnerability factors between injured veterans (n = 26) and nonveterans (n = 19); zero-order correlations explored relationships among study variables. RESULTS: The veteran sample demonstrated lower levels of psychosocial protective factors and higher levels of health-related vulnerability factors compared with nonveterans (|0.49| to |1.56|). Psychosocial protective factors were consistently negatively associated with health-related vulnerability factors (-.27 to -.63). CONCLUSION: Post-9/11 veterans with service-related injuries are at a substantial disadvantage in terms of resilience; lower protective factors and elevated vulnerability factors may increase their risk for poor campus integration and impede academic achievement.
OBJECTIVE: To examine differences in psychosocial protective factors (social support, meaningful occupation, and academic self-efficacy) and health-related vulnerability factors (posttraumatic stress, depression, and somatic symptoms) contributing to resilience in post-9/11 veterans with service-related injuries and nonveterans in postsecondary education. METHOD: A cross-sectional, matched-participants design using propensity score matching was used to test differences in mean levels of protective and vulnerability factors between injured veterans (n = 26) and nonveterans (n = 19); zero-order correlations explored relationships among study variables. RESULTS: The veteran sample demonstrated lower levels of psychosocial protective factors and higher levels of health-related vulnerability factors compared with nonveterans (|0.49| to |1.56|). Psychosocial protective factors were consistently negatively associated with health-related vulnerability factors (-.27 to -.63). CONCLUSION: Post-9/11 veterans with service-related injuries are at a substantial disadvantage in terms of resilience; lower protective factors and elevated vulnerability factors may increase their risk for poor campus integration and impede academic achievement.