THE IMPACT OF DISCHARGE TYPE ON MILITARY TO CIVILIAN REINTEGRATION: CONFORMITY TO MASCULINITY AS A MODERATING FACTOR

Abstract

Literature has shown that reintegrating back into civilian life and mentality has proven to be one of the most difficult aspects of transitioning from military service. Based on aspects such as qualifications for benefits, perceived stigma, and amount of community support, discharge status at the time of separation has been shown to have an impact on how separated service members reintegrate. Additionally, rigid adherence to the hypermasculine environment of the United States military could serve to further complicate reintegration for service members. The current study evaluates the relationship between discharge status and military to civilian reintegration, with adherence to traditional masculinity as a potential moderating factor utilizing a self-report survey containing a demographics questionnaire with prompts regarding discharge status, the Military to Civilian Questionnaire, and the Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory (CMNI). Results indicated no significant relationship between discharge status and reintegration issues for separated service members, no significant relationship between CMNI scores and reintegration issues, and no moderation effect utilizing discharge type and CMNI as an interaction. However, a subscale related to masculinity, Self-Reliance, was found to be a significant predictor of reintegration issues. Implications for future research include focusing on service members with atypical discharge status and their lack of visibility both within civilian and veteran communities and how that impacts research and successful reintegration. Additionally, a call is made for further research into how masculinity is discussed and treated in the field of psychology, especially for veterans who may hold masculinity-related core values.