Abstract

The transition from military to civilian life is recognised as a complex and multifaceted process with significant implications for the mental health and well-being of service leavers. While existing academic contribution has concentrated predominantly on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), considerably less attention has been directed toward the broader psychological effects associated specifically with the transition itself. This study addresses this gap by examining transitional depression, a proposed phenomenon experienced during or following departure from the British Army. Informed by the researcher’s positionality as a veteran, the thesis adopts a mixed-methods design that integrates quantitative assessment of transitional experiences with qualitative inquiry conducted through Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).

The quantitative component investigates veterans’ perceptions of transition difficulty and its relationship to indicators of mental health and adjustment. Rather than presenting detailed statistical outputs, this section provides an overview of patterns that suggest meaningful associations between transitional challenges and psychological well-being. Although additional data were collected from other service branches, these findings are treated primarily as contextual, supporting the potential relevance of transitional depression across the UK veteran population.

The qualitative phase employs semi-structured interviews analysed through IPA to explore the lived experiences of British Army veterans in depth. Themes relating to identity reconstruction, the influence of military culture and the negotiation of mental health emerged as central to participants’ accounts. The reflexive engagement of the researcher, shaped by personal service experience, informs the interpretative process and adds a critical dimension to understanding how transitional depression may manifest.

Collectively, the mixed-methods findings support the conceptualisation of transitional depression as a distinct and underexamined psychological response associated with military-to-civilian transition. This thesis therefore contributes original empirical and conceptual insight to a limited body of literature and establishes a foundation for further theoretical development and clinical recognition of transitional depression.