Kathryn is a 28-year-old who just transitioned out of military life. She reports feeling more connected to her military friends than her family. This experience, common to Veterans, often occurs because of:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Veterans may experience a return to civilian life and culture as alien, as many aspects of civilian life no longer feel normal to them. This is due to the reality that the Veteran, the family, and the home environment have changed while the service member was deployed. Veterans may feel disconnected from family and friends who have not shared the deployment experience. This is one reason they may gravitate toward and spend more time with military "buddies" than with family members (Sayer et al., 2011). Feelings of alienation increase the likelihood of engaging in risky behaviors that hinder reintegration and diminish well-being. Frequently, Veterans and their family members experience a mismatch between their expectations and reality when the person returns home. Adjustment requires time, patience, and the establishment of a "new normal" that satisfies the needs of the Veteran and the family (Ahern et al., 2015).

Kathryn Is a 28-Year-Old Who Just Transitioned Out of Military