PSYCHOLOGICAL RESOURCES AND MECHANISMS OF VETERANS’ PROFESSIONAL READAPTATION
Keywords:
professional readaptation, veterans, resilience, self-efficacy, career adaptability, flexible self-regulation, social support.
Abstract
This article analyzes current approaches to veterans’ professional readaptation and identifies key psychological resources-resilience, self-efficacy, career adaptability, meaning in life, and social support. It clarifies the role of flexible self-regulation and conservation-of-resources processes as mechanisms that enable transitions to sustainable employment. The analysis establishes that multicomponent interventions (psychoeducation, skills training, physical activity, mentoring) accelerate the restoration of professional roles. The study shows the value of integrating resource assessments into readaptation plans and demonstrates the need for cross-sector coordination of services. Finally, it proposes a mechanism map and a resource–intervention matrix for practice.
References
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15. International Organization for Migration (IOM). (2025, March). Veteran profiles and reintegration challenges in Ukraine (DTM Insight thematic brief). https://dtm.iom.int/
16. Jadhakhan, F., Lindner, R., Grudzinksas, G., & White, R. (2022). Is exercise/physical activity effective at reducing symptoms of PTSD? A systematic review. PLoS ONE, 17(8), Article e0273337. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0273337
17. Le, N. Q. (2024). How military service affects veterans’ job outcomes. Journal of Veterans Studies, 10(1), 27–31. https://doi.org/10.21061/jvs.v10i1.513
18. Morgan, N. R., Davenport, K. E., Aronson, K. R., McCarthy, K. J., Bleser, J. A., & Perkins, D. F. (2022). The relationship between veterans’ employment program component use and career advancement over time. Journal of Veterans Studies, 8(1), 147–163. https://doi.org/10.21061/jvs.v8i1.281
19. Perkins, D. F., Baumann, A., Jensen, S., Naranjo, A., & Lesh, W. (2023). Influence of employment program components on job attainment among U.S. military veterans. International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance, 23(3), 735–757. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-022-09572-4
20. Rosenbaum, S., Vancampfort, D., Steel, Z., Newby, J., Ward, P. B., & Stubbs, B. (2015). Physical activity in the treatment of Post-traumatic stress disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychiatry Research, 230(2), 130–136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2015.10.017
21. Savickas, M. L., & Porfeli, E. J. (2012). Career Adapt-Abilities Scale: Construction, reliability, and measurement equivalence across 13 countries. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 80(3), 661–673. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2012.01.011
22. Schwarzer, R., & Jerusalem, M. (1995). Generalized self-efficacy scale. In J. Weinman, S. Wright, & M. Johnston (Eds.), Measures in health psychology: A user’s portfolio. Causal and control beliefs (pp. 35–37). NFER-Nelson.
23. Steger, M. F., Frazier, P., Oishi, S., & Kaler, M. (2006). The meaning in life questionnaire: Assessing the presence of and search for meaning in life. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 53(1), 80–93. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.53.1.80
24. Whitley, M. D., & Apaydin, E. (2024). How working conditions in civilian jobs can affect veterans’ health and well-being. RAND https://doi.org/10.7249/PEA1363-12
25. Zimet, G. D., Dahlem, N. W., Zimet, S. G., & Farley, G. K. (1988). The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Journal of Personality Assessment, 52(1), 30–41. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa5201_2
2. Karamushka, L. M. (2023). Psykhichne zdorovia personalu orhanizatsii v umovakh viiny [Mental health of organizational personnel in wartime]. Instytut psykholohii im. H. S. Kostiuka NAPN Ukrainy [In Ukrainian].
3. Kokun, O. (2021). Opytuvalnyk profesiinoi zhyttiestiikosti (ukrainska versiia) [Professional hardiness questionnaire (Ukrainian version)]. Disaster and Crisis Psychology Problems, (1), 91–105. https://doi.org/10.52363/dcpp-2021.1.8 [In Ukrainian].
4. Kokun, O. (2024). Diahnostyka profesiinoi zhyttiestiikosti ta psykhofiziolohichnoi stiikosti [Diagnostics of professional resilience and psychophysiological resilience]. Instytut psykholohii im. H. S. Kostiuka NAPN Ukrainy [In Ukrainian].
5. Kokun, O. M. (2025). Zhytttiestiikist i rezyliientnist liudyny v suchasnomu sviti: Teoriia, doslidzhennia, praktyka [Human vitality and resilience in the modern world: theory, research, practice]. Instytut psykholohii im. H. S. Kostiuka NAPN Ukrainy [In Ukrainian].
6. Adams, T. G., Forte, J., Fogle, B. M., Southwick, S. M., & Pietrzak, R. H. (2020). Self-reported exercise frequency and PTSD: Results from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 142(6), 486–495. https://doi.org/10.1111/acps.13234
7. Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. WH Freeman CO.
8. Bonanno, G. A. (2004). Loss, trauma, and human resilience: Have we underestimated the human capacity to thrive after extremely aversive events? American Psychologist, 59(1), 20–28. https://doi. org/10.1037/0003-066X.59.1.20
9. Bonanno, G. A., & Burton, C. L. (2013). Regulatory flexibility: An individual differences perspective on coping and emotion regulation. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 8(6), 591–612. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691613504116
10. Del Corso, J., & Rehfuss, M. C. (2011). The role of narrative in career construction theory. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 79(2), 334–339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2011.04.003
11. Hegberg, N. J., Hayes, J. P., & Hayes, S. M. (2019). Exercise intervention in PTSD: A narrative review and rationale for implementation. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 10, Article e133. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00133
12. Hobfoll, S. E. (1989). Conservation of resources: A new attempt at conceptualizing stress. American Psychologist, 44(3), 513–524. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.44.3.513
13. Hobfoll, S. E., Halbesleben, J., Neveu, J.-P., & Westman, M. (2018). Conservation of resources in the organizational context: The reality of resources and their consequences. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 5, 103–128. https://doi.org/10.1146/an-nurev-orgpsych-032117-104640
14. Hutcheon, D., Rendall, J., McMillan, C., Dall, P., Morrison-Glancy, S., & Steiner, A. (2025). The health and wellbeing outcomes of employment and vocational-based interventions for veterans: A scoping review. Journal of Veterans Studies, 11(1), 95–111. https://doi.org/10.21061/jvs.v11i1.638
15. International Organization for Migration (IOM). (2025, March). Veteran profiles and reintegration challenges in Ukraine (DTM Insight thematic brief). https://dtm.iom.int/
16. Jadhakhan, F., Lindner, R., Grudzinksas, G., & White, R. (2022). Is exercise/physical activity effective at reducing symptoms of PTSD? A systematic review. PLoS ONE, 17(8), Article e0273337. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0273337
17. Le, N. Q. (2024). How military service affects veterans’ job outcomes. Journal of Veterans Studies, 10(1), 27–31. https://doi.org/10.21061/jvs.v10i1.513
18. Morgan, N. R., Davenport, K. E., Aronson, K. R., McCarthy, K. J., Bleser, J. A., & Perkins, D. F. (2022). The relationship between veterans’ employment program component use and career advancement over time. Journal of Veterans Studies, 8(1), 147–163. https://doi.org/10.21061/jvs.v8i1.281
19. Perkins, D. F., Baumann, A., Jensen, S., Naranjo, A., & Lesh, W. (2023). Influence of employment program components on job attainment among U.S. military veterans. International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance, 23(3), 735–757. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-022-09572-4
20. Rosenbaum, S., Vancampfort, D., Steel, Z., Newby, J., Ward, P. B., & Stubbs, B. (2015). Physical activity in the treatment of Post-traumatic stress disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychiatry Research, 230(2), 130–136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2015.10.017
21. Savickas, M. L., & Porfeli, E. J. (2012). Career Adapt-Abilities Scale: Construction, reliability, and measurement equivalence across 13 countries. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 80(3), 661–673. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2012.01.011
22. Schwarzer, R., & Jerusalem, M. (1995). Generalized self-efficacy scale. In J. Weinman, S. Wright, & M. Johnston (Eds.), Measures in health psychology: A user’s portfolio. Causal and control beliefs (pp. 35–37). NFER-Nelson.
23. Steger, M. F., Frazier, P., Oishi, S., & Kaler, M. (2006). The meaning in life questionnaire: Assessing the presence of and search for meaning in life. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 53(1), 80–93. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.53.1.80
24. Whitley, M. D., & Apaydin, E. (2024). How working conditions in civilian jobs can affect veterans’ health and well-being. RAND https://doi.org/10.7249/PEA1363-12
25. Zimet, G. D., Dahlem, N. W., Zimet, S. G., & Farley, G. K. (1988). The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Journal of Personality Assessment, 52(1), 30–41. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa5201_2
Published
2025-11-30
How to Cite
Holodnyi, M. (2025). PSYCHOLOGICAL RESOURCES AND MECHANISMS OF VETERANS’ PROFESSIONAL READAPTATION. Kyiv Journal of Modern Psychology and Psychotherapy, 10, 36-44. https://doi.org/10.48020/mppj.2025.02.03
Section
Articles
