Date of Conferral

2020

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

James S. Herndon

Abstract

Currently, employment programs for veterans focus heavily on the clinical nature of veterans with service-linked PTSD, with little to no focus on the lived experience of non-clinical employment programs. The purpose of this qualitative study explored the lived experience of male veterans with service-linked PTSD utilizing non-clinical employment programs designed to assist them in finding and maintaining employment while transitioning from the military into the civilian workforce. This study utilized an explanatory case study design with a sample of 8 male combat veterans with service-linked PTSD who have utilized non-clinical employment programs. Data for this study were collected through interviews with the use of a semi-structured interview guide. This study was guided by Schlossberg’s Theory of Transition and sought to examine how combat veterans with service-linked PTSD describe the challenges they have with finding and retaining employment after being deployed from the military and the type of support they received from employment programs. The findings indicate that improvements need to be made with the employment programs in order to improve the employability of veterans with service-linked PTSD transitioning from the military into the civilian workforce. Implications for social change consists of employment programs and agencies helping veterans with service linked PTSD seek and maintain successful employment, which is vital to the work-life transition of these veterans from the military into the civilian workforce.

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