<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>This qualitative study explores the meaning-making process of veterans to address the positive aspects of military service in international operations. Thirteen veterans from a Force Protection Unit in Norway were interviewed about their deployment to Afghanistan. A thematic analysis revealed three main themes reflecting meaningful aspects of the service. “Confirmation of ability” refers to finding meaning by coping with stressful situations and being recognized for it. “Cohesion of peers” refers to finding meaning by belonging to a team and giving mutual support within the team, such as backing up each other and caring. “Significance of effort” refers to finding meaning by seeing their efforts as a contribution, as well as by receiving recognition and gaining status for their efforts. The analysis also revealed accompanying themes of inconsistencies, which in turn activated different coping strategies. The findings have been substantiated through a functional exposition of meaning: purpose, value, efficacy, and self-worth, as advocated by <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="j_jms-2016-0004_ref_008_w2aab3b8b3b1b7b1ab2ab8Aa">Baumeister (1991)</xref>, and are discussed in the context of previous research and a theoretical concept of meaning making. Steps for future research are proposed.</p></abstract>

This qualitative study explores the meaning-making process of veterans to address the positive aspects of military service in international operations. Thirteen veterans from a Force Protection Unit in Norway were interviewed about their deployment to Afghanistan. A thematic analysis revealed three main themes reflecting meaningful aspects of the service. “Confirmation of ability” refers to finding meaning by coping with stressful situations and being recognized for it. “Cohesion of peers” refers to finding meaning by belonging to a team and giving mutual support within the team, such as backing up each other and caring. “Significance of effort” refers to finding meaning by seeing their efforts as a contribution, as well as by receiving recognition and gaining status for their efforts. The analysis also revealed accompanying themes of inconsistencies, which in turn activated different coping strategies. The findings have been substantiated through a functional exposition of meaning: purpose, value, efficacy, and self-worth, as advocated by Baumeister (1991), and are discussed in the context of previous research and a theoretical concept of meaning making. Steps for future research are proposed.

Meaning and inconsistencies of meaning – exploring the perspectives of Norwegian veterans in Afghanistan

Department of Leadership, Royal Norwegian Air Force Academy,

Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology,

Journal of Military Studies

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

This qualitative study explores the meaning-making process of veterans to address the positive aspects of military service in international operations....

Meaning and inconsistencies of meaning – exploring the perspectives of Norwegian veterans in Afghanistan

Article Category: Research Article

Published Online: Dec 31, 2016

Page range: 31 - 43

Received: Feb 17, 2016

Accepted: Aug 31, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/jms-2016-0004

Keywords
meaning, inconsistency, coping, veteran, military

© 2016, Roger Lien et al.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Meaning and inconsistencies of meaning – exploring the perspectives of Norwegian veterans in Afghanistan

Article Category: Research Article

Published Online: Dec 31, 2016

Page range: 31 - 43

Received: Feb 17, 2016

Accepted: Aug 31, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/jms-2016-0004

Keywordsmeaning, inconsistency, coping, veteran, military

© 2016, Roger Lien et al.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
meaning, inconsistency, coping, veteran, military