Exploring the Role of Social Connection in Interventions With Military Veterans Diagnosed With Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: Systematic Narrative Review
BackgroundIt has been identified that military veterans have distinct experiences of loneliness and social isolation and, when comparing this community to other client groups with a PTSD diagnosis, veterans respond less favorably to treatment. However, the link between PTSD and loneliness for vetera...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.873885/full |
| _version_ | 1818536214442016768 |
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| author | Richard D. Gettings Jenna Kirtley Gemma Wilson-Menzfeld Gavin E. Oxburgh Derek Farrell Matthew D. Kiernan |
| author_facet | Richard D. Gettings Jenna Kirtley Gemma Wilson-Menzfeld Gavin E. Oxburgh Derek Farrell Matthew D. Kiernan |
| author_sort | Richard D. Gettings |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundIt has been identified that military veterans have distinct experiences of loneliness and social isolation and, when comparing this community to other client groups with a PTSD diagnosis, veterans respond less favorably to treatment. However, the link between PTSD and loneliness for veterans remains insufficiently researched and it is unclear if there are effective interventions tackling this distinct experience of loneliness.AimsThis systematic narrative review aimed to synthesize existing evidence incorporating elements of social connection, social isolation, and loneliness within interventions for military veterans with a diagnosis of PTSD, consequently aiming to examine the impact of such interventions upon this community.MethodsSix databases were searched, utilizing relevant search criteria, with no date restrictions. Articles were included if they involved intervention or treatment for military veterans with PTSD and considered elements of social connection, social isolation, and/or loneliness. The initial search returned 202 papers. After exclusions, removal of duplications, and a reference/citation search, 28 papers remained and were included in this review.ResultsFrom the 28 studies, 11 directly addressed social isolation and two studies directly addressed loneliness. Six themes were generated: (i) rethinking the diagnosis of PTSD, (ii) holistic interventions, (iii) peer support, (iv) social reintegration, (v) empowerment through purpose and community, and (vi) building trust.ConclusionsA direct focus upon social reintegration and engagement, psychosocial functioning, building trust, peer support, group cohesiveness and empowerment through a sense of purpose and learning new skills may mitigate experiential loneliness and social isolation for veterans with PTSD. Future research and practice should further explore the needs of the PTSD-diagnosed veteran community, seek to explore and identify potential common routes toward the development of PTSD within this community and consider bespoke interventions for tackling loneliness. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T18:35:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4395ed0a1fc9466884fd8ca7b982a534 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T18:35:04Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-4395ed0a1fc9466884fd8ca7b982a5342022-12-22T00:54:46ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782022-07-011310.3389/fpsyg.2022.873885873885Exploring the Role of Social Connection in Interventions With Military Veterans Diagnosed With Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: Systematic Narrative ReviewRichard D. Gettings0Jenna Kirtley1Gemma Wilson-Menzfeld2Gavin E. Oxburgh3Derek Farrell4Matthew D. Kiernan5Northern Hub for Veterans and Military Families Research, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United KingdomNorthern Hub for Veterans and Military Families Research, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United KingdomNorthern Hub for Veterans and Military Families Research, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United KingdomNorthern Hub for Veterans and Military Families Research, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United KingdomDepartment of Violence, Trauma and Criminology, Worcester University, Worcester, United KingdomNorthern Hub for Veterans and Military Families Research, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United KingdomBackgroundIt has been identified that military veterans have distinct experiences of loneliness and social isolation and, when comparing this community to other client groups with a PTSD diagnosis, veterans respond less favorably to treatment. However, the link between PTSD and loneliness for veterans remains insufficiently researched and it is unclear if there are effective interventions tackling this distinct experience of loneliness.AimsThis systematic narrative review aimed to synthesize existing evidence incorporating elements of social connection, social isolation, and loneliness within interventions for military veterans with a diagnosis of PTSD, consequently aiming to examine the impact of such interventions upon this community.MethodsSix databases were searched, utilizing relevant search criteria, with no date restrictions. Articles were included if they involved intervention or treatment for military veterans with PTSD and considered elements of social connection, social isolation, and/or loneliness. The initial search returned 202 papers. After exclusions, removal of duplications, and a reference/citation search, 28 papers remained and were included in this review.ResultsFrom the 28 studies, 11 directly addressed social isolation and two studies directly addressed loneliness. Six themes were generated: (i) rethinking the diagnosis of PTSD, (ii) holistic interventions, (iii) peer support, (iv) social reintegration, (v) empowerment through purpose and community, and (vi) building trust.ConclusionsA direct focus upon social reintegration and engagement, psychosocial functioning, building trust, peer support, group cohesiveness and empowerment through a sense of purpose and learning new skills may mitigate experiential loneliness and social isolation for veterans with PTSD. Future research and practice should further explore the needs of the PTSD-diagnosed veteran community, seek to explore and identify potential common routes toward the development of PTSD within this community and consider bespoke interventions for tackling loneliness.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.873885/fulllonelinessmental healthmilitaryPost-Traumatic Stress Disorderpsychosocialsocial isolation |
| spellingShingle | Richard D. Gettings Jenna Kirtley Gemma Wilson-Menzfeld Gavin E. Oxburgh Derek Farrell Matthew D. Kiernan Exploring the Role of Social Connection in Interventions With Military Veterans Diagnosed With Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: Systematic Narrative Review Frontiers in Psychology loneliness mental health military Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder psychosocial social isolation |
| title | Exploring the Role of Social Connection in Interventions With Military Veterans Diagnosed With Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: Systematic Narrative Review |
| title_full | Exploring the Role of Social Connection in Interventions With Military Veterans Diagnosed With Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: Systematic Narrative Review |
| title_fullStr | Exploring the Role of Social Connection in Interventions With Military Veterans Diagnosed With Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: Systematic Narrative Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring the Role of Social Connection in Interventions With Military Veterans Diagnosed With Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: Systematic Narrative Review |
| title_short | Exploring the Role of Social Connection in Interventions With Military Veterans Diagnosed With Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: Systematic Narrative Review |
| title_sort | exploring the role of social connection in interventions with military veterans diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder systematic narrative review |
| topic | loneliness mental health military Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder psychosocial social isolation |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.873885/full |
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