Semester of Graduation
Spring 2026
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration
Department
Michael J. Coles College of Business
Committee Chair/First Advisor
Joshua C. Palmer
Second Advisor
Graham Lowman
Third Advisor
Charn McAllister
Abstract
Veterans’ transition from military service to civilian employment often involves challenges related to workplace structure, culture, and identity adjustment. This study examined how role ambiguity and veteran job skill transfer relate to veteran identity strain and, in turn, how veteran identity strain relates to adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies after the honeymoon-hangover phase of adjustment. Former military rank was also examined as a moderator between veteran identity strain and coping strategies. Snowball sample data were collected from 226 U.S. military veterans employed full time in the civilian workforce who had been separated from military service for at least one year. Data were analyzed using statistical software (e.g., SPSS and SmartPLS). The results indicated that role ambiguity was positively related to veteran identity strain, whereas the transfer of job skills from military to civilian roles was negatively related to veteran identity strain. Veteran identity strain was positively related to maladaptive coping strategies, but it was not significantly related to adaptive coping strategies. Former military rank significantly moderated the relationship between veteran identity strain and adaptive coping strategies, such that higher-ranking veterans were more likely than lower-ranking veterans to respond to identity strain with adaptive coping. However, former military rank did not significantly moderate the relationship between veteran identity strain and maladaptive coping strategies. Overall, the findings suggest that veteran identity strain is an important mechanism linking workplace transition conditions to coping outcomes, particularly maladaptive coping. The study contributes to research on military-to-civilian transition, workplace adjustment, and coping by extending attention beyond entry into the vi civilian workplace and highlighting implications for onboarding, reduced role ambiguity, skills translation, and veteran retention practices.