CAMPUS CONNECTIONS AND FLOURISHING AMONG STUDENT SERVICE MEMBERS AND VETERANS

Abstract

Background: As student service members and veterans (SSM/V) transition from the military to college, they encounter academic culture, which is more self-focused, ambiguous, and informal than military culture. While SSM/V may prefer the company of other service members and veterans, developing relationships with non-military students, faculty, and staff facilitates achievement, supportive relationships, purpose and meaning, i.e., flourishing. Disconnectedness, experienced as loneliness or not belonging to the campus community, may impede flourishing.Theory: Meleis’ middle-range transitions theory. Methods: (a) systematic literature review of SSM/V mental health research using national survey data, (b) operationalizing Meleis’ patterns of response utilizing Diener’s flourishing scale, (c) secondary analysis of 2020-2022 Healthy Minds Study data from 3874 SSM/V. Results: Belonging was correlated with flourishing (rs = .29). Loneliness was inversely correlated with belonging (rs. = -.20) and flourishing (rs = -.54). There was an interaction between loneliness and belonging: SSM/V who were lonely flourished more if they belonged (saw themselves as a part of the campus community), whereas SSM/V who were not lonely flourished even if they did not see themselves as part of the campus community. Participating in extracurricular activities was correlated with belonging (rs = .26) but not with loneliness or flourishing. Married SSM/V were less lonely (t = -15.76, p < .001, Cohen’s d = -.51) and flourished more (t = 9.18, p < .001, Cohen’s d = .29) than unmarried SSM/V. Emerging adult SSM/V were lonelier (t = 7.23, p < .001, Cohen’s d = .26) and flourished less (t = -4.77, p < .001, Cohen’s d = -.17) than older SSM/V. Conclusion: Loneliness and lack of belonging interfere with SSM/V flourishing. For lonely SSM/V, more belonging correlates with more flourishing. Belonging mediates the relationship between extracurricular activity and flourishing. Nursing care of SSM/V should include screening for loneliness and mobilizing support.