AN EXPLORATION OF TRANSITION EXPERIENCES SHAPING STUDENT VETERAN LIFE FLOW

Educational institutions offer transformative opportunities for veterans transitioning from military service. Veteran-specific cultural supports in educational environments offer participation in occupations and development of skills needed to complete educational goals. However, veterans experience...

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Main Author: Gregg, Brian T.
Format: Others
Published: UKnowledge 2016
Subjects:
Online Access:http://uknowledge.uky.edu/rehabsci_etds/31
http://uknowledge.uky.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1032&context=rehabsci_etds
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spelling ndltd-uky.edu-oai-uknowledge.uky.edu-rehabsci_etds-10322016-05-06T16:54:11Z AN EXPLORATION OF TRANSITION EXPERIENCES SHAPING STUDENT VETERAN LIFE FLOW Gregg, Brian T. Educational institutions offer transformative opportunities for veterans transitioning from military service. Veteran-specific cultural supports in educational environments offer participation in occupations and development of skills needed to complete educational goals. However, veterans experience complex life circumstances atypical from traditional student culture which influences use of available environmental supports. Currently, the student veteran population is growing following fifteen years of combat and with systematic downsizing of the military. Therefore, rehabilitation professionals and educators must understand the unique experiences which shape veteran life flow during the transition process. This dissertation contains three studies investigating veteran experiences transitioning to postsecondary education. The first study surveyed the attitudes and beliefs of veterans coping with the transition to postsecondary education. Results identified veterans’ preference to using skills learned in the military for solving problems in the transition and reported limited use of university supports made available. A second study examined lived experiences of veterans transitioning and their interactions with traditional students and university supports. Results identified veterans emerge in college culture following a transactive process of sorting through military experiences, building on military skills, and developing new relationships for civilian identity. The final constructivist grounded theory study investigated the individual and collective constructions of veteran transitioning experiences in relation to culture and context. Twelve veterans were theoretically sampled and developed Kawa (River) metaphorical diagrams of their transition experiences. Intensive interviews discussed the meaning ascribed to veterans’ diagrams. Interview data was analyzed with the constant comparison technique until theoretical saturation was achieved. The emergent theory explained student veteran life flow by two major theoretical concepts: seeking understanding and gaining stability to shape life flow in transition from military to student culture. Veterans shared understanding in each cultural environment by socially interacting with others perceived to be reaching out and connecting with veterans. Veterans also performed autonomous actions of gaining stability by using their skills, pinpointing useful resources, and cultivating the growth and expression of personal skills. Both theoretical processes simultaneously, enhanced veteran’s transition to postsecondary education and promoted harmony within veteran life flow over time. 2016-01-01T08:00:00Z text application/pdf http://uknowledge.uky.edu/rehabsci_etds/31 http://uknowledge.uky.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1032&context=rehabsci_etds Theses and Dissertations--Rehabilitation Sciences UKnowledge Kawa Model Student Veteran Transition Constructivist Grounded Theory Education Other Social and Behavioral Sciences
collection NDLTD
format Others
sources NDLTD
topic Kawa Model
Student Veteran
Transition
Constructivist Grounded Theory
Education
Other Social and Behavioral Sciences
spellingShingle Kawa Model
Student Veteran
Transition
Constructivist Grounded Theory
Education
Other Social and Behavioral Sciences
Gregg, Brian T.
AN EXPLORATION OF TRANSITION EXPERIENCES SHAPING STUDENT VETERAN LIFE FLOW
description Educational institutions offer transformative opportunities for veterans transitioning from military service. Veteran-specific cultural supports in educational environments offer participation in occupations and development of skills needed to complete educational goals. However, veterans experience complex life circumstances atypical from traditional student culture which influences use of available environmental supports. Currently, the student veteran population is growing following fifteen years of combat and with systematic downsizing of the military. Therefore, rehabilitation professionals and educators must understand the unique experiences which shape veteran life flow during the transition process. This dissertation contains three studies investigating veteran experiences transitioning to postsecondary education. The first study surveyed the attitudes and beliefs of veterans coping with the transition to postsecondary education. Results identified veterans’ preference to using skills learned in the military for solving problems in the transition and reported limited use of university supports made available. A second study examined lived experiences of veterans transitioning and their interactions with traditional students and university supports. Results identified veterans emerge in college culture following a transactive process of sorting through military experiences, building on military skills, and developing new relationships for civilian identity. The final constructivist grounded theory study investigated the individual and collective constructions of veteran transitioning experiences in relation to culture and context. Twelve veterans were theoretically sampled and developed Kawa (River) metaphorical diagrams of their transition experiences. Intensive interviews discussed the meaning ascribed to veterans’ diagrams. Interview data was analyzed with the constant comparison technique until theoretical saturation was achieved. The emergent theory explained student veteran life flow by two major theoretical concepts: seeking understanding and gaining stability to shape life flow in transition from military to student culture. Veterans shared understanding in each cultural environment by socially interacting with others perceived to be reaching out and connecting with veterans. Veterans also performed autonomous actions of gaining stability by using their skills, pinpointing useful resources, and cultivating the growth and expression of personal skills. Both theoretical processes simultaneously, enhanced veteran’s transition to postsecondary education and promoted harmony within veteran life flow over time.
author Gregg, Brian T.
author_facet Gregg, Brian T.
author_sort Gregg, Brian T.
title AN EXPLORATION OF TRANSITION EXPERIENCES SHAPING STUDENT VETERAN LIFE FLOW
title_short AN EXPLORATION OF TRANSITION EXPERIENCES SHAPING STUDENT VETERAN LIFE FLOW
title_full AN EXPLORATION OF TRANSITION EXPERIENCES SHAPING STUDENT VETERAN LIFE FLOW
title_fullStr AN EXPLORATION OF TRANSITION EXPERIENCES SHAPING STUDENT VETERAN LIFE FLOW
title_full_unstemmed AN EXPLORATION OF TRANSITION EXPERIENCES SHAPING STUDENT VETERAN LIFE FLOW
title_sort exploration of transition experiences shaping student veteran life flow
publisher UKnowledge
publishDate 2016
url http://uknowledge.uky.edu/rehabsci_etds/31
http://uknowledge.uky.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1032&context=rehabsci_etds
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