Department for Health, University of Bath, Bath, UK.
Help for Heroes Sports Recovery, Tidworth, UK.
Disabil Rehabil. 2021 Dec;43(24):3552-3561. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2020.1725655. Epub 2020 Feb 20.
Previous research has championed sport as a form of recovery for military veterans. Nevertheless, there is a lack of research on military veterans' experiences of international sporting competitions. The aim of this study was to explore military veterans' experiences of participation at the 2016 Invictus Games.
Fifteen military veterans (10 male, 5 female) who participated in the 2016 Invictus Games were recruited. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore experiences pre, during, and post-competition, and analyzed using applied thematic analysis.
Three overarching themes were identified: consisted of a range of veteran specific motives for getting involved with and continuing participation with the Games. encapsulated organizational demands related to the attitudes and behaviors of a sports team operating within the context of the Invictus Games. comprised veterans' perceptions of positive and negative consequences of being involved with the Games.
The study provides insight into the multitude of motives military veterans have for engaging in sport, whilst also demonstrating the novel organizational demands that veteran athletes encounter. The findings also offer preliminary insight regarding the impact of the Games and the potential for psychoeducation program implementation to support athletes post-Games.Implications for RehabilitationThe Invictus Games were created for military veterans to use the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation, and generate wider understanding and respect.Findings highlight that military veterans have unique motives to compete at the Invictus Games, including "" and "".Whilst veterans encounter team and culture organizational stressors while competing, they share similar post-Games experiences to full-time athletes, including the concept of "".Experiences shared by military veterans at the Invictus Games can aid in the promotion of sport as a viable form of recovery.Primary and secondary stress management strategies should be implemented with military veterans to reduce organizational stressors and their responses to them.Psychoeducation programmes should be introduced pre-Games to better prepare military veterans for their post-Games experience.
先前的研究主张将运动作为退伍军人康复的一种形式。然而，对于退伍军人参加国际体育比赛的经历，研究还很缺乏。本研究旨在探讨退伍军人参加 2016 年不屈者运动会的经历。
招募了 15 名参加 2016 年不屈者运动会的退伍军人（男性 10 名，女性 5 名）。采用半结构式访谈，探讨他们在比赛前、比赛中和比赛后的经历，并运用应用主题分析法进行分析。
确定了三个总体主题：包括参与和继续参与运动会的退伍军人特定动机的范围。包括与体育团队在不屈者运动会背景下的态度和行为相关的组织需求。包括退伍军人对参与运动会的积极和消极后果的看法。
该研究深入了解了退伍军人参与运动的多种动机，同时也展示了退伍军人运动员所面临的新颖的组织需求。研究结果还初步探讨了运动会的影响以及在运动会后实施心理教育计划以支持运动员的潜力。
不屈者运动会是为退伍军人创建的，他们利用运动的力量来激发康复、支持康复，并产生更广泛的理解和尊重。研究结果表明，退伍军人有独特的动机参加不屈者运动会，包括“”和“”。虽然退伍军人在比赛中会遇到团队和文化的组织压力，但他们与全职运动员有相似的赛后经历，包括“”的概念。不屈者运动会上退伍军人的经历有助于促进运动作为一种可行的康复形式。应与退伍军人一起实施主要和次要的压力管理策略，以减少组织压力及其对退伍军人的反应。应在赛前引入心理教育方案，使退伍军人更好地为赛后经历做好准备。
