Self-reorganization in transition from military to civilian life: Maria’s way
Qualitative research has demonstrated that transition from military to civilian life involves narrative identity reconstruction among service members. The reformulation of narrative identities may prove to become an existential quest for service members since the questions of who I am, where I am going, and what is my place in the world need to be (re)answered by the self in a new cultural context. Thus, a reorganization of stories also corresponds to a reorganization of I-positions in the self. This article presents the case study of Lieutenant Maria, one participant derived from a larger longitudinal research project designed to explore this process of transition, and aims to demonstrate new ways of understanding self-identity work in transition through a Dialogical Self Theory approach. The analysis of the case study suggests that self-reorganization was necessary for adaptation to a civilian cultural context that shaped alternate identities. Four types of factors were observed to have major influence upon the self-identity evolution: contextual promoters, a dialogical self-attitude, meta-cognitive activities, and a group of cooperative positions in the self which could evolve in a new context and through emerging identities.
Abstract: Objectives: Increasing numbers of older adults are reentering community following incarceration (i.e., reentry), yet risk of incident neurodegenerative disorders associated with reentry is unknown. Our objective was to determine association between reentry status (reentry vs never-incarcerated) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and/or dementia. Methods: This nationwide, longitudinal cohort study used linked Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and Veterans Health Administration data. Participants were aged 65 years or older who experienced reentry between October 1, 2012, and December 31, 2018, with no preincarceration MCI/dementia, compared with age-matched/sex-matched never-incarcerated veterans. MCI/dementia was defined by diagnostic codes. Fine-Gray proportional hazards models were used to examine association. Results: This study included 35,520 veterans, mean age of 70 years, and approximately 1% women. The reentry group (N = 5,920) had higher incidence of MCI/dementia compared with the never-incarcerated group (N = 29,600; 10.2% vs 7.2%; fully adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.12; 95% CI 1.00-1.25). On further investigation, reentry was associated with increased risk of dementia with or without prior MCI diagnosis (aHR 1.21; 95% CI 1.06-1.39) but not MCI only. Discussion: Transition from incarceration to community increased risk of neurocognitive diagnosis. Findings indicate health/social services to identify and address significant cognitive deficits on late-life reentry. Limitations include generalizability to nonveterans.