The Emotional Experience in Transitioning from Military Service to Civilian Life: A Scoping Review Protocol

Identifying Literature

Scoping review procedures were employed to detect pertinent literature using SCOPUS and PsycINFO databases and resources published by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from January 2015 through February 2026. A review registration was created in the Open Science Framework (OSF) on January 28, 2026.

Search Terms

To identify relevant literature, a set of search terms was used, including military transition, veteran transition, veteran reintegration, transition experience, civilian transition, post-service transition, emotional experience, and emotions. For more information on how these search terms were combined to create search strings; see Appendix A.

Eligibility Criteria

In this review, a veteran is defined by their legally recognized status, established through statute, regulation, or official policy. Studies were included if they (1) examined the emotional experiences of American military veterans during the transition from active-duty service to civilian life; (2) involved adults aged 18 years and older from all eras of military service and of all genders; (3) used quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods empirical designs; (4) were published in peer-reviewed journals between 2015 and 2026; and (5) focused on post-separation experiences rather than active-duty service. Studies were excluded if they (1) focused exclusively on reserve or National Guard populations; (2) examined veterans from countries outside the United States; (3) were dissertations, editorials, commentaries, or non-peer-reviewed publications; (4) addressed emotional experiences during active-duty service rather than the transition to civilian life; or (5) focused on the transition from incarceration to civilian life.

Study Identification, Screening, and Selection

Two databases, SCOPUS and PsycINFO, were used to identify relevant literature for the scoping review. A single reviewer conducted the search, which was finalized in February 2026. The reviewer was a licensed clinical social worker with experience in behavioral health, substance use treatment, and veteran-related psychosocial concerns. This professional background supported interpretation of studies addressing emotional well-being, help-seeking, suicide risk, and reintegration challenges. To reduce potential reviewer bias, the review followed a prespecified protocol registered in the Open Science Framework, used predefined eligibility criteria, applied standardized search terms and screening procedures, and organized extracted data using a structured Covidence extraction form. Decisions about inclusion, exclusion, coding, and synthesis were documented throughout the review process to support transparency and reproducibility.

All articles retrieved from these databases were uploaded to Covidence, a platform designed to streamline the collection of studies for literature reviews. In total, N = 1,103 records (Figure 1) were identified through database searches, including PsycINFO (n = 702) and Scopus (n = 401). No additional records were identified through citation searching, grey literature, or other sources. After removing 595 duplicate records (589 identified by Covidence and 6 identified manually), 508 unique records remained for title and abstract screening. During initial screening, 359 records were excluded due to not meeting inclusion criteria, leaving 149 studies for full-text retrieval. All full texts were successfully obtained and assessed for eligibility.

Figure 1

After the full-text review, 101 studies were excluded for failing to meet the inclusion criteria. The most common reasons for exclusion were failure to explicitly examine veterans’ emotional experiences during the transition from military to civilian life, lack of relevance to the target population or phenomenon of interest, and publication or peer-review status issues. Ultimately, 48 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the scoping review. At the time of the review, there were no studies awaiting classification and no ongoing studies included. Table 1 provides a complete list of studies used for the scoping review.

Data Extraction

Data from the included sources were organized using a standardized data extraction form developed in Covidence. The extracted variables included bibliographic information (e.g., author, year), study characteristics (including study design and data collection instruments), and sample characteristics (e.g., population description, sample size). The substantive data extracted focused on emotional experiences during the transition from military to civilian life. This included the types of emotions reported, the authors’ explanations of the relationship between emotions and the transition process, and the circumstances that triggered these emotional responses. Furthermore, items were documented regarding support or interventions that impacted emotional well-being, key findings, and the relationships between emotional experiences and the circumstances that triggered them. The author identified research gaps to guide future research directions. All data were organized for each source to support a descriptive synthesis, in accordance with scoping review methodology.

Data Synthesis

This review examined the emotional experiences of veterans by distinguishing between specific emotion categories and broader emotion domains. Emotion categories refer to the specific feelings that veterans identified, such as anxiety, loneliness, or guilt, and reflect the nuanced ways in which people describe their emotional lives (Barrett, 2017; Cowen & Keltner, 2017). In contrast, emotion domains are higher-order groupings that cluster related experiences based on shared functional, social, moral, or existential characteristics (Barrett, 2017; Cowen & Keltner, 2017). This approach aligns with contemporary emotion science, which shows that emotions do not form fixed categories but instead emerge as context-dependent and meaning-based constructions (Barrett, 2017). Reported emotional experiences occupy a rich and overlapping semantic space rather than existing in discrete categories (Cowen & Keltner, 2017). Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines and the descriptive aims of scoping review methodology, emotion domains were used as an analytical framework to map patterns across studies while preserving the specificity of veterans’ language (Tricco et al., 2018). Therefore, the identified domains serve as organizational tools for synthesizing the literature rather than claiming universal or discrete structures of emotion (Barrett, 2017).

Analytical Approaches

In the studies reviewed, emotional experiences during the transition from military to civilian life were classified into 20 distinct types of emotions and domains. These domains encompass a wide range of affective, social, moral, and existential aspects of the transition experience. It is important to note that the identified emotion categories reflect veterans’ subjective emotional experiences rather than clinical diagnoses. Emotional experiences were frequently described as overlapping and co-occurring, reflecting the complex interplay between affective distress, identity disruption, moral conflict, and social disconnection. This domain-based framework provides an integrative structure for understanding the breadth and complexity of emotional experiences reported across the literature and underscores the multifaceted nature of emotional well-being during transition.

Key Findings, Protective Supports and Interventions, and Gaps in Literature

Synthesis of findings revealed three dominant areas of coming together across the included studies: (1) key emotional and psychosocial findings related to transition experiences, (2) supports and interventions associated with improved emotional well-being, and (3) persistent gaps in the existing literature that constrain understanding and intervention development. These areas reflect recurring patterns across diverse study contexts and veteran populations. Figure 2, Military-to-Civilian Transition Venn Diagram, visualizes the overlap in domains of key findings, available supports, and research gaps.

Figure 2

The findings show that the military-to-civilian transition is a high-risk, dynamic process shaped by emotional, relational, identity, and structural conditions. The supports literature responds with integrated clinical, peer, family, purpose-oriented, and practical interventions. The central cross-cutting need is for early, veteran-centered, rigorously evaluated support that treats well-being holistically rather than as diagnosis alone. Region 1, Key Findings, highlights themes during the military-to-civilian transition of distress, suicidality, identity and purpose loss, and amplified challenges for some subpopulations. Region 2, Supports, highlights themes during the military-to-civilian transition of named intervention modalities, such as peer, clinical, family, complementary, purpose-oriented, and practical supports. Region 3, Research Gaps, identifies themes during the military-to-civilian transition related to methodological, representation, longitudinal, evaluation, and veteran-perspective deficiencies. Region 4, Needs and Supports, highlights observed emotional and structural needs aligned with integrated care, connection, purpose, and practical stability. Region 5, Key Findings and Research Gaps, highlights themes around veterans’ lived experiences that were missed or overlooked, such as identity, relational suffering, structural context, and diverse veteran experiences, which are consequential but underexamined. Region 6, Supports and Research Gaps, shows the intervention evidence gap, such as that promising supports need earlier deployment, veteran co-design, continuity, and more rigorous evaluation. Region 7, Key Findings, Supports, and Research Gaps, presents the cross-cutting conclusion that the transition should be treated as a dynamic, high-risk process requiring early, holistic, veteran-centered responses.

Key Findings: Emotional Distress as a Multidimensional Transition Experience

Across all studies (N = 48), emotional distress during the military–civilian transition was consistently described as extending beyond diagnosable mental health conditions such as PTSD, depression, or anxiety. Veterans’ accounts included multifaceted emotional experiences encompassing stress, loneliness, anger, moral conflict, and identity-related distress (24 studies: 1, 7, 12, 14–15, 18–21, 23, 25–26, 29–30, 33–35, 37, 39–40, 43–44, & 46–47). These emotional states were frequently described as overlapping rather than discrete, indicating that transition-related distress is cumulative and interactive in nature (29 studies: 1, 7, 9, 12, 14–15, 18–21, 23–30, 32–35, 37, 39–40, 43–44, & 46–47).

Identity loss and disruption of purpose emerged as central organizing experiences underlying many emotional challenges reported across studies (22 studies: 1, 7, 12–14, 18–21, 23, 27–30, 32–33, 37–39, 43–44, & 46). Veterans frequently described the loss of a mission-driven role, structured environment, sense of usefulness, and military camaraderie as emotionally destabilizing (27 studies: 3, 6–8, 12–16, 18–21, 23–24, 27–30, 32–33, 35, 37–39, 43–44, & 46). This loss of meaning was commonly associated with feelings of emptiness, confusion, reduced self-worth, and emotional withdrawal during reintegration (14 studies: 7, 14, 18–21, 27–30, 33, 37, 42, & 46).

Emotional experiences during transition were also consistently embedded within broader social and structural contexts. Distress was closely linked to employment instability, financial strain, housing insecurity, workplace cultural mismatch, family role renegotiation, stigma surrounding help-seeking, and challenges navigating civilian institutions (27 studies: 1, 3–4, 9–10, 13–16, 18–21, 23–24, 26–27, 29–30, 33–35, 37–38, 43–44, & 46). These findings indicate that emotional well-being during transition cannot be fully understood without considering the broader social and material context in which veterans reintegrate.

Notably, several studies highlighted that certain subpopulations experience amplified emotional challenges, including women veterans, racial and ethnic minority veterans, student veterans, wounded veterans, and those experiencing involuntary or medical discharge (11 studies: 1, 3–4, 11, 13, 21, 30, 36, 39, 41, & 46). For these groups, emotional distress was often compounded by gendered expectations, marginalization within veteran and civilian systems, caregiving demands, and barriers to culturally responsive care (11 studies: 1, 3–4, 11, 13, 21, 30, 36, 39, 41, & 46). These findings underscore that emotional well-being during transition reflects the interaction of individual emotional processes with relational and systemic conditions.

Supports Contributing to Emotional Well-being During Transition

Despite widespread challenges, the literature identified multiple supports and interventions associated with improved emotional well-being during the transition period. Across studies, peer support and veteran community connection emerged as some of the most consistently protective factors (21 studies: 2, 3, 5–7, 12, 15, 18, 20, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31–32, 36, 38, 40, 43–44, & 48). Engagement with Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs), peer mentorship, veteran-only groups, and civic service programs provided opportunities for shared identity, mutual understanding, and restored belonging (15 studies: 2, 6–7, 15, 18, 20, 23, 27, 29, 31–32, 36, 40, & 43–44). Activities that fostered meaning and purpose were also strongly associated with positive emotional outcomes (8 studies: 2, 8, 11, 27, 29, 32, 38, & 40). Volunteering, civic engagement, meaningful employment, and education aligned with personal values helped veterans reconstruct a sense of contribution and direction, counteracting feelings of aimlessness and loss of mission (8 studies: 2, 8, 11, 27, 29, 32, 38, & 40).

Integrated mental health and psychosocial care was frequently cited as beneficial when approaches extended beyond symptom reduction to address identity, relationships, and emotion regulation (15 studies: 12, 14–15, 18, 20–23, 26, 29, 37, 43, 45, 47, & 48). Trauma-informed counseling, skills-based interventions (e.g., cognitive-behavioral and dialectical behavior therapies), and suicide prevention programs were particularly effective when delivered in culturally competent and veteran-centered ways (15 studies: 12, 14–15, 18, 20–23, 26, 29, 37, 43, 45, 47, & 48). Family and relational support also played a critical role. Family psychoeducation, couple-based interventions, and partner-inclusive programs helped reduce relational strain, improve communication, and strengthen social support systems, factors closely tied to emotional stability during reintegration (6 studies: 15, 21, 22, 26, 37, & 48). In addition, a growing body of studies highlighted the value of non-traditional and complementary interventions, including art and music therapy, equine-facilitated therapy, community-based fitness programs, and gaming communities (6 studies: 14, 21, 25, 31, 36, & 48). These approaches provided alternative pathways for emotional expression, social connection, and regulation, particularly for veterans who were reluctant to engage in conventional mental health services (6 studies: 14, 21, 25, 31, 36, & 48).

Finally, structural and practical supports, such as employment assistance, career counseling, financial literacy training, GI Bill benefits, housing stability, and accessible healthcare, were repeatedly identified as foundational to emotional well-being (22 studies: 1, 2, 3, 8–10, 13, 15–16, 20, 23–24, 26–27, 29–30, 33, 37–38, 43–44, & 46). Early transition planning and continuity of care, including transition assistance programs and trusted points of contact during reintegration, further supported emotional adjustment by reducing uncertainty and the burden of navigating systems (9 studies: 10, 15, 19, 23, 26, 30, 43, 44, & 46).

Gaps Identified in the Literature

Despite the breadth of findings, several significant gaps were consistently identified across studies. A prominent limitation was the overemphasis on diagnostic outcomes, with many studies prioritizing PTSD, depression, or anxiety measures while under examining identity loss, moral distress, relational suffering, and existential disruption, experiences repeatedly identified as central by veterans themselves. Additionally, transition was frequently conceptualized as a static outcome rather than a dynamic process, limiting understanding of how emotional experiences evolve over time. Few studies adopted longitudinal designs or explicitly examined different phases of reintegration.

The literature also demonstrated substantial underrepresentation of diverse veteran populations, including women veterans, veterans of color, LGBTQ+ veterans, non-VA-enrolled veterans, and nonbinary veterans (16 studies: 4, 15, 18, 21, 27, 30, 34–39, & 41–46). This limits the generalizability of findings and obscures intersectional sources of emotional distress (16 studies: 4, 15, 18, 21, 27, 30, 34–39, 41, 43, & 45–46). Another critical gap involved the lack of early-stage intervention research, particularly during the first 3–12 months post-separation, a period associated with heightened suicide risk (5 studies: 9, 18, 19, 37, & 46). While many studies documented distress during this window, few evaluated targeted interventions specifically designed for this phase (5 studies: 9, 18, 19, 37, & 46).

Across studies, emotional well-being was often analyzed separately from social and structural determinants, such as employment, housing, and community belonging, despite evidence that these factors are deeply interconnected (16 studies: 1, 3, 9–10, 15, 18, 20–21, 23, 27, 29–30, 33, 37, 43, & 46). Moreover, non-traditional and emerging supports, including creative arts, civic engagement, and fitness-based interventions, remain undervalued and lack rigorous comparative designs (6 studies: 14, 21, 25, 31, 36, & 48). Finally, many programs and interventions were described as provider- or system-driven, with limited incorporation of veterans’ lived experiences, preferences, and self-defined needs (9 studies: 14, 18, 23, 27, 31, 36, 37, 43, & 48). This gap underscores the need for more veteran-centered and participatory approaches to transition research and support.

Interpreting Emotional Well-being During the Military–civilian Transition

This scoping review demonstrates that emotional well-being during the military–civilian transition is characterized by multidimensional, overlapping emotional experiences that extend beyond diagnosable mental health conditions. Across the included studies, veterans described constellations of affective distress, identity disruption, social disconnection, and moral conflict that frequently co-occurred rather than presenting as discrete emotional states (Ahmadi-Montecalvo et al., 2025; Angel et al., 2020; Bond et al., 2022; Castro et al., 2015; DeLucia & Kennedy, 2021; Derefinko et al., 2019; Edwards et al., 2023, 2026; Elnitsky et al., 2017; Ferruolo, 2016; Geraci et al, 2020; Harrod et al., 2017; Hirst, 2021; Kahn et al., 2016; Keeling, 2024; Kukla et al., 2015; Lake & Branson, 2021; Libin et al., 2017; Matthieu et al., 2018; Meca et al., 2020; Miloslavich et al., 2026; Morton et al., 2025; Pebole et al., 2026; Rattray et al., 2023; Russell & Russell, 2018; Shankle et al., 2023; Shue et al., 2021; Sokol et al., 2021; Stanley & Larsen, 2019).

Identity loss and disruption of purpose emerged as central organizing experiences that shaped how veterans interpreted and navigated other emotional challenges during reintegration (Ahmadi-Montecalvo et al., 2025; Angel et al., 2020; Castro et al., 2015; Cheney et al., 2025; DeLucia & Kennedy, 2021; Edwards et al., 2023, 2026; Elnitsky et al., 2017; Ferruolo, 2016; Geraci et al., 2020; Keeling, 2024; Kukla et al., 2015; Lake & Branson, 2021; Libin et al., 2017; Matthieu et al., 2018; Meca et al., 2020; Pebole et al., 2026; Raabe et al., 2024; Rattray et al., 2023; Shankle et al., 2023; Shue et al., 2021; Sokol et al., 2021).This pattern aligns with contemporary emotion theory, which conceptualizes emotions as dynamically constructed and shaped by situational and social context (Barrett, 2017).

Emotional Distress Beyond Diagnostic Models

A central contribution of this scoping review is the identification of emotional distress during the military-civilian transition that extends beyond traditional diagnostic frameworks. While depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder remain prevalent and clinically significant, veterans across the included studies frequently describe emotional experiences using language not fully captured by diagnostic criteria, including emptiness, demoralization, shame, moral conflict, and perceived burdensomeness. These experiences were often articulated in relation to loss of purpose, disrupted identity, social invisibility, or moral dissonance rather than discrete symptom constellations (Ahmadi-Montecalvo et al., 2025; Angel et al., 2020; Castro et al., 2015; DeLucia & Kennedy, 2021; Edwards et al., 2023, 2026; Elnitsky et al., 2017; Ferruolo, 2016; Geraci et al., 2020; Lake & Branson, 2021; Libin et al., 2017; Meca et al., 2020; Rattray et al., 2023; Shankle et al., 2023; Sokol et al., 2021). Such findings are consistent with critiques of diagnosis-focused approaches to veteran adjustment, which may obscure existential, relational, and meaning-based dimensions of distress that significantly shape well-being and functioning (Barrett, 2017; Rogers et al., 2017).

Importantly, the presence of these emotional experiences among veterans both with and without formal mental health diagnoses suggests that emotional suffering during transition exists along a broader continuum than diagnostic thresholds alone can capture (Angel et al., 2020; Castro et al., 2015; Dexter, 2020; Edwards et al., 2023; Edwards et al., 2026; Lake & Branson, 2021; Mamon et al., 2020; Morton et al., 2025; Senecal et al., 2021; Sokol et al., 2021). Failure to attend to non-diagnosable yet distressing emotional states risks under-identifying vulnerability, delaying support, and reinforcing stigma for veterans who do not perceive their experiences as “clinical” or who are reluctant to engage in diagnosis-driven services (Albright et al., 2018; Rogers et al., 2017; Edwards et al., 2023; Silvestrini & Chen, 2023). These findings highlight the need for models of transition support that recognize emotional distress as multidimensional and contextually embedded, and that integrate diagnostic assessment with explicit attention to identity disruption, meaning-making, moral distress, and social belonging during reintegration.

Identity Loss and Purpose Disruption as Central Organizing Processes

Across the reviewed literature, identity loss and disruption of purpose emerged as central organizing experiences underlying many emotional challenges reported during the transition to civilian life (Ahmadi-Montecalvo et al., 2025; Angel et al., 2020; Castro et al., 2015; Cheney et al., 2025; DeLucia & Kennedy, 2021; Edwards et al., 2023, 2026; Elnitsky et al., 2017; Ferruolo, 2016; Geraci et al., 2020; Keeling, 2024; Kukla et al., 2015; Lake & Branson, 2021; Libin et al., 2017; Matthieu et al., 2018; Meca et al., 2020; Pebole et al., 2026; Raabe et al., 2024; Rattray et al., 2023; Shankle et al., 2023; Shue et al., 2021; Sokol et al., 2021).Veterans frequently described the loss of a mission-driven role, military structure, and shared identity as emotionally destabilizing, contributing to feelings of emptiness, demoralization, self-doubt, and nostalgia for military life (Albright et al., 2018; Angel et al., 2018, 2020; Bennett et al., 2015; Castro et al., 2015; Cheney et al., 2025; DeLucia & Kennedy, 2021; Derefinko et al., 2019; Dexter, 2020; Edwards et al., 2023, 2026; Elnitsky et al., 2017; Ferruolo, 2016; Geraci et al., 2020; Harrod et al., 2017; Keeling, 2024; Kukla et al., 2015; Lake & Branson, 2021; Libin et al., 2017; Matthieu et al., 2018; Meca et al., 2020; Morton et al., 2025; Pebole et al., 2026; Raabe et al., 2024; Rattray et al., 2023; Shankle et al., 2023; Shue et al., 2021; Sokol et al., 2021).These findings align with prior work suggesting that reintegration difficulties are often rooted in challenges to identity coherence and meaning-making rather than employment status or symptom severity alone (Orazem et al., 2017; Angel et al., 2018). Importantly, identity-related distress was reported across diverse transition contexts, including education, employment, disability adjustment, and family role renegotiation, indicating that identity reconstruction is a foundational process shaping emotional well-being throughout reintegration, rather than a concern limited to early or crisis-driven stages of transition (Bond et al., 2022; Cheney et al., 2025; Elnitsky et al., 2017; Orazem et al., 2017).

Social and Structural Embedding of Emotional Well-Being

The findings further demonstrate that emotional well-being during the military–civilian transition is deeply embedded within social and structural contexts. Emotional distress was consistently linked to employment instability, financial strain, housing insecurity, workplace cultural mismatch, and difficulties navigating civilian institutions, underscoring that emotional experiences cannot be disentangled from the material and relational conditions of reintegration (Ahmadi-Montecalvo et al., 2025; Albright et al., 2018, 2019; Bond et al., 2022; Borowski et al., 2021; Cheney et al., 2025; DeLucia & Kennedy, 2021; Derefinko et al., 2019; Dexter, 2020; Edwards et al., 2023, 2026; Elnitsky et al., 2017; Ferruolo, 2016; Geraci et al., 2020; Harrod et al., 2017; Kahn et al., 2016; Keeling, 2024; Lake & Branson, 2021; Libin et al., 2017; Meca et al., 2020; Miloslavich et al., 2026; Morton et al., 2025; Pebole et al., 2026; Raabe et al., 2024; Shankle et al., 2023; Shue et al., 2021; Sokol et al., 2021).Veterans’ reports of loneliness, alienation, and thwarted belongingness were frequently attributed to the loss of military camaraderie and challenges forming meaningful civilian connections, reinforcing the protective role of social belonging and community continuity in emotional adjustment (Albright et al., 2018, 2019; Angel et al., 2018, 2020; Bennett et al., 2015; Bond et al., 2022; Borowski et al., 2021; Castro et al., 2015; Cheney et al., 2025; DeLucia & Kennedy, 2021; Derefinko et al., 2019; Dexter, 2020; Edwards et al., 2023, 2026; Elnitsky et al., 2017; Ferruolo, 2016; Geraci et al., 2020; Harrod et al., 2017; Hirst, 2021; Keeling, 2024; Lake & Branson, 2021; Libin et al., 2017; Mamon et al., 2020; Matthieu et al., 2018; Miloslavich et al., 2026; Morton et al., 2025; Olsen & Jette, 2025; Pebole et al., 2026; Rattray et al., 2023; Russell & Russell, 2018; Saunders et al., 2023; Shankle et al., 2023; Shue et al., 2021; Sokol et al., 2021; Vetro-Kalseth et al., 2021). This pattern supports relational and constructionist perspectives on emotion, which emphasize that emotional experiences are shaped by situational demands, social roles, and access to valued social contexts, rather than residing solely within individuals (Barrett, 2017; Angel et al., 2018; Cowen & Keltner, 2017).

Protective Supports and Implications for Intervention

Despite pervasive challenges, the review identified a range of supports associated with improved emotional well-being. Peer connection and veteran community engagement emerged as particularly prominent protective factors, providing opportunities for mutual understanding, identity continuity, and restored belonging (Angel et al., 2018; Edwards et al., 2023). Similarly, interventions that fostered meaning and purpose, such as civic engagement, volunteering, and meaningful work, appeared especially effective in mitigating identity-related distress (Angel et al., 2018; Orazem et al., 2017). Integrated, trauma-informed mental health care was most beneficial when it extended beyond symptom reduction to include identity exploration, emotion regulation, and relational support (Ainspan et al., 2018; Edwards et al., 2023). Notably, non-traditional and complementary interventions, including creative arts therapies, fitness-based communities, and gaming spaces, offered alternative entry points for veterans who may be reluctant to engage in conventional clinical services (DeLucia & Kennedy, 2021; Edwards et al., 2023; Ferruolo, 2016; Olsen & Jette, 2025; Vetro-Kalseth et al., 2021). These findings suggest the value of flexible, culturally responsive support models that align with veterans’ preferences and lived experiences.

Addressing Persistent Gaps in the Literature

The review revealed several persistent gaps that warrant attention. First, the literature continues to favor diagnostic outcomes over emotional, identity-based, and relational experiences, limiting the field’s ability to capture the full scope of transition-related distress. Second, reintegration is often treated as a static endpoint rather than a dynamic, longitudinal process, constraining understanding of how emotional needs evolve over time (Ahmadi-Montecalvo et al., 2025; Ainspan et al., 2018; Albright et al., 2018, 2019; Alruwaili et al., 2023; Angel et al., 2018, 2020; Bennett et al., 2015; Bond et al., 2022; Borowski et al., 2021; Buzzetta et al., 2020; Castro et al., 2015; Cheney et al., 2025; DeLucia & Kennedy, 2021; Derefinko et al., 2019; Dexter, 2020; DiGangi et al., 2018; Edwards et al., 2023, 2026; Elnitsky et al., 2017; Ferruolo, 2016; Fischer et al., 2015; Geraci et al., 2020; Harrod et al., 2017; Hirst, 2021; Kahn et al., 2016; Keeling, 2024; Kukla et al., 2015; Lake & Branson, 2021; Libin et al., 2017; Mamon et al., 2020; Matthieu et al., 2018; Meca et al., 2020; Miloslavich et al., 2026; Morton et al., 2025; Olsen & Jette, 2025; Pebole et al., 2026; Raabe et al., 2024; Rattray et al., 2023; Russell & Russell, 2018; Saunders et al., 2023; Senecal et al., 2021; Shankle et al., 2023; Shue et al., 2021; Silvestrini & Chen, 2023; Sokol et al., 2021; Stanley & Larsen, 2019; Vetro-Kalseth et al., 2021). Notably, early transition phases, particularly the first-year post-separation, remain understudied despite evidence of heightened suicide risk (Bond et al., 2022; Edwards et al., 2023, 2026; Pebole at el., 2026; Sokol et al., 2021; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Suicide Prevention, 2026).

Additionally, women veterans, veterans of color, LGBTQ+ veterans, non-VA-enrolled veterans, and nonbinary veterans remain underrepresented, raising concerns about equity and generalizability (Albright et al., 2019; Derefinko et al., 2019; Edwards et al., 2023; Ferruolo, 2016; Keeling, 2024; Libin et al., 2017; Miloslavich et al., 2026; Morton et al., 2025; Olsen & Jette, 2025; Pebole et al., 2026; Raabe et al., 2024; Rattray et al., 2023; Saunders et al., 2023; Shankle et al., 2023; Silvestrini & Chen, 2023; Sokol et al., 2021). Finally, many interventions documented in the literature remain system-driven rather than veteran-centered, with limited incorporation of veterans’ voices in design and evaluation (DeLucia & Kennedy, 2021; Edwards et al., 2023; Geraci et al., 2020; Keeling, 2024; Mamon et al., 2020; Olsen & Jette, 2025; Pebole et al., 2026; Shankle et al., 2023; Vetro-Kalseth et al., 2021).

Implications for Future Research and Practice

The findings of this scoping review highlight the need for future research to move beyond outcome-focused and diagnosis-driven approaches toward longitudinal, veteran-centered investigations of emotional well-being during the military–civilian transition. Studies that track emotional trajectories across multiple phases of reintegration, including the early post-separation period marked by elevated suicide risk, are particularly needed to capture how identity, belonging, moral meaning, and emotional experiences evolve over time. Incorporating qualitative and mixed-methods designs, as well as participatory approaches that center on veterans’ lived experiences, would strengthen understanding of emotional processes that are not readily captured by standard diagnostic measures.

Future research should also prioritize greater inclusion of historically underrepresented veteran populations, including women veterans, veterans of color, LGBTQ+ veterans, non-VA-enrolled veterans, and nonbinary veterans. Addressing to intersecting identities and structural inequities is essential to developing more equitable and responsive models of transition support. In addition, research that explicitly integrates emotional well-being with social and structural determinants, such as employment stability, housing security, and community connection, would better reflect the lived reality of reintegration and inform the development of more comprehensive interventions.

For practice, the findings underscore the limitations of models that rely exclusively on symptom reduction or diagnostic thresholds to define need and guide service delivery. Effective transition support should adopt holistic, veteran-centered frameworks that attend to identity reconstruction, meaning-making, social belonging, and moral distress alongside clinical assessment and treatment. Interventions that integrate peer support, community engagement, and non-traditional modalities may offer accessible entry points for veterans who are reluctant to engage in conventional clinical services. Collectively, these implications call for coordinated, multisector approaches to transition support that recognize emotional well-being as a multidimensional and socially embedded process, requiring sustained attention across clinical, community, and policy contexts.

There are several ways to address the challenges of transitioning from military to civilian life. First, it would be to provide education for active-duty service members about the potential life experiences they may encounter. This education should focus not only on practical skills for employment and further education but also on the emotional experiences service members might face during this transition. Insights from veterans who have successfully navigated this journey could be included to enhance understanding. The educational program should cover emotional situations that may trigger certain feelings and introduce support and interventions that can promote emotional well-being. Additionally, it could include training on emotional regulation techniques.

Furthermore, active-duty service members should participate in biopsychosocial assessments to evaluate the biological, social, and psychological aspects of their lives, providing a comprehensive understanding. While these assessments might include diagnostic screenings, they should also consider veterans’ unique experiences, which are not always fully captured by traditional diagnostic tools. The information gathered from these assessments could help identify tailored support and interventions to address service members’ specific needs before they leave the military. This preparation should include connections to community organizations, recommendations for clinical interventions, and clear steps for accessing these resources. Such a structured approach could effectively address the lack of guidance often reported in post-service life.

In addition to recommendations for interventions to implement with service members prior to separating from active duty, there are suggestions for future research. This research should prioritize the first-year post-separation period by developing and evaluating interventions tailored to the first three to 12 months. The focus should include outcomes related to suicide risk, feelings of belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and rapid access to care. It is crucial to include women veterans, veterans of color, LGBTQ+ and nonbinary veterans, as well as non-VA-enrolled veterans, in this research and to analyze their intersecting identities instead of treating all veterans as a homogeneous group. Finally, conducting comparative or pragmatic trials for initiatives such as creative arts, civic engagement, fitness communities, gaming, and peer-led models, with clearly defined logic models and standardized outcomes, will allow for comparisons with conventional services.