Wickham, Olivia M. (2022) Exploring the Influence of a Holistic Outdoor Retreat on Female Veteran’s Wellbeing. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
This phenomenological qualitative study adopted a constructivist worldview and explored the influence that Veteran’s Retreat had on the wellbeing of female veterans. This research was framed by integrating the health and the social support domains of the Veteran Centred Model (AIHW, 2018). This integrated domain identified factors that impact veteran physiological and psychological health and was drawn upon to further explore how factors relative to health and social support impact female veterans specifically. The key informing factors were isolation when leaving the Australian Defence Force, military culture, and a sense of community amongst female veterans, barriers that prevent engagement with holistic therapies, and existing holistic, outdoor, and adventure-based therapies for veterans. This study aimed to answer the following research questions: (a) what does wellbeing mean to female veterans? (b) what are the experiences of female veterans at a holistic retreat? and (c) how does attendance at a holistic retreat influence the wellbeing of female veterans? Seven participants engaged in individual semi-structured interviews. Thematic Analysis identified five main themes: understandings of wellbeing, wellbeing barriers and consequences of service, empowered mindset, a sense of peace and safety, and social support. Exploration revealed that for participants, wellbeing was a holistic concept, in-service and post-service barriers impeded wellbeing, and wellbeing was enhanced by holistic therapies and social experiences at Veteran’s Retreat. This research may enhance female veteran wellbeing, aid transition, reduce suicidality, and inform policy change through psychoeducation regarding the benefits of holistic therapies.
|
Statistics for this ePrint Item |
| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Current – Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology and Wellbeing (1 Jan 2022 -) |
| Supervisors: | Meg Forbes |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 06 Aug 2025 03:30 |
| Last Modified: | 06 Aug 2025 03:30 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Female veterans; Veteran’s Retreat; holistic; wellbeing; social support |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52877 |
Actions (login required)
 |
Archive Repository Staff Only |
