A meta-analytic review of group interventions for Veteran-civilian transition

Abstract:Transitioning from military-to-civilian [MCT] can produce additional stress on veterans and challenge them socially, emotionally, and occupationally. Group and community-building-based interventions are uniquely situated to address these issues. To date, many researchers and organizations use varying group intervention strategies to improve veteran life satisfaction throughout the MCT process, making unclear which patient characteristics, group-based intervention content, and group-based intervention format are most efficacious for improving life satisfaction among veterans. A random effects meta-analysis was conducted to test the overall effect of group interventions on veteran life satisfaction. Additionally, an exploratory moderator analyses was conducted on the efficacy of different group intervention formats, intervention provider types, and veteran demographics. The final analysis included 19 research papers with 32 cases with 1,635 participants. A medium effect size (d = .538, (95% CI [.25, .82]), 95% prediction interval [.25; .82] t = 3.87, p < .001, I² = 89.1%) of group intervention on life satisfaction was found. The current findings and literature review also highlighted the scarcity of group intervention research in alternative forms of veteran group intervention, most notably in community activism, peer support groups, and non-therapy-based practices that encourage veterans to meet in a group setting. The current study was the first to examine group intervention efficacy in improving global measures of functioning and satisfaction in life post-service, including social, psychological, and relational domains. Implications for future research and recommendations for clinical training are included.