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"I know I can do anything I set my mind to now." From the Invictus Pathways Program to representing Australia competitively: a qualitative analysis of the perceptions and experiences of veterans and their family support networks about the impact of participation

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dc.contributor.authorPost, D.
dc.contributor.authorBaker, A.
dc.contributor.authorMilanese, S.
dc.contributor.authorFreegard, S.
dc.contributor.authorParfitt, G.
dc.date.issued2025
dc.descriptionData source: Supplemental material, https://doi.org/10.1080/28367472.2025.2517020
dc.description.abstractParticipating in competitive events such as invictus Games and Warrior Games has been identified to have benefits for the physical and psychological wellbeing of veterans. there is, however, potential for negative impacts for veterans who either do not achieve selection in representative teams or who experience the ‘post-games blues’ following participation in competitive events. the potential double-edged-sword of competition for this population needs to be understood. UNISA’s invictus Pathways Program (IPP) has supported veterans to train for and participate in competitive events, applying a holistic approach that promotes recovery and wellbeing for all veterans through physical activity. applying thematic analysis to semi-structured interviews undertaken with participating veterans and their family members, this paper describes the lived-experience perspectives of the journey through training, team selection processes, veterans representing themselves and their country on the international stage, and veterans’ plans post- competition. The findings suggest perceptions that participation in competitive games was followed by “post games blues” for most of the participants in this study, and that the factors that contributed were varied. Participation in competitive events was valued and seen as a high point for veterans and members of their family support network. Despite the evidence for physical and psychological benefits for veterans who participate in competitive events, similar to elite athletes, there is an identified need to provide appropriate support throughout training, participation, and post-competition, to mitigate potentially detrimental impacts on mental health and wellbeing wherever possible.
dc.identifier.citationMilitary Social Work, 2025; 13(1):1-8
dc.identifier.doi10.1080/28367472.2025.2517020
dc.identifier.issn2836-7472
dc.identifier.issn2836-7499
dc.identifier.orcidPost, D. [0000-0002-8246-0363]
dc.identifier.orcidParfitt, G. [0000-0002-5547-5797]
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/11541.2/44916
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherTaylor & Francis,
dc.relation.fundingHospital Research Foundation 2017-01-TRH-Retro
dc.rightsCopyright 2022 The Authors. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the creative commons attribution-noncommercial-noderivatives license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1080/28367472.2025.2517020
dc.subjectveterans
dc.subjectInvictus Pathways Program
dc.subjectphysical and psychological wellbeing
dc.subjectexercise and physical activity
dc.subjectveterans and families
dc.title"I know I can do anything I set my mind to now." From the Invictus Pathways Program to representing Australia competitively: a qualitative analysis of the perceptions and experiences of veterans and their family support networks about the impact of participation
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished
ror.fileinfo12308686390001831 13308686380001831 Open Access Published Version
ror.mmsid9917059225501831

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