Success in life after service: A perspective on conceptualizing the well-being of military Veterans

Abstract

LAY SUMMARY Military members want to do well when they leave service. Good well-being is one way of thinking about success in the transition to life after service. The word well-being has different meanings to different people, which can be confusing. To help Veterans, it must be clearly defined. Some see well-being as something inside a person; others see it as how people are doing in the outside world. People can have poorer or better well-being in many areas of life, not just in how they feel. This article describes a way of thinking about well-being that can work for different purposes.