title: Women's Health Identities in the Transition From Military Member to Service Veteran.
abstract: As servicewomen leave behind their military rank and status to become veterans, they must learn to effectively navigate a fragmented structure of care and communicate their health care needs. This study proposes a culture-centered approach to understanding how structural changes contribute to a reduction in positive health perception and behavior as active duty servicewomen transition to a veteran status. Results suggest during the process of disengagement from military cultural norms, women veterans' health care prevention service utilization decreases, and their physical and mental health decreases through the transition. These findings highlight the need for widely available and culturally appropriate programs to meet the needs of this unique patient population.
authors: a Department of Communication Studies , Texas State University , San Marcos , Texas , USA.
authors: Melinda
authors: M
authors: Villagran
authors: b Department of Biomedical Informatics , Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences , Bethesda , Maryland , USA.
authors: Christy J W
authors: CJ
authors: Ledford
authors: c Department of Communication , Wake Forest University , Winston-Salem , North Carolina , USA.
authors: Mollie Rose
authors: MR
authors: Canzona
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D003142:Communication; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016387:Women's Health