Mothers’ experiences of their sons’ appearance-altering combat injuries: Distressed and unsupported

Keeling, M.; Williams, V. S.; Harcourt, D.; Kiff, J.; Williamson, H.

Abstract

Emerging evidence indicates that combat injuries that change appearance, such as limb loss and physical scarring, can impact psychosocial wellbeing of injured military veterans. Parents of young children with a visibly different appearance may experience emotional distress and consequently have their own support needs, but less is known about the experiences of the parents of veterans with appearance-altering combat injuries. Using a qualitative individual interview design, this study aimed to understand the experiences and support needs of parents of military veterans who sustained appearance-altering combat injuries. Reflexive Thematic Analysis of interviews with six mothers identified two main themes “The distress of my son’s appearance-altering injury” and “I can’t express my distress”. The themes represent the emotional distress, guilt, and social difficulties experienced by the mothers following their sons’ appearance-altering injury, their experience of feeling they should supress their feelings of distress, the limited available support, and barriers to accessing support. This study highlights how the mothers of combat-injured veterans are often overlooked and provides emerging evidence that adjusting to a son’s changed appearance following combat-injury can create additional challenges for mothers, who could benefit from specific support.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 2, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Dec 18, 2023
• Publication Date: 2024
• Deposit Date: Jan 12, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 1, 2024
• Journal: Military Behavioral Health
• Print ISSN: 2163-5781
• Electronic ISSN: 2163-5803
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 12
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 74-85
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/21635781.2023.2293896
• Keywords: General Psychology, Social Sciences (miscellaneous)
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/11543778