ABSTRACT

Loneliness has always been a problem for soldiers and veterans, and yet it has rarely been systematically investigated in this context. The current chapter draws on a three-decade longitudinal study of Israeli veterans and a set of qualitative investigations to delineate the trajectory and characteristics of the veteran's loneliness. Particularly, the chapter situates the experience within the contexts of combat stress reaction (CSR), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the broader veteran identity. Thus the incommensurability of experiential worlds and the alienation it harbors are delineated and underscored. The chapter concludes with societal and clinical implications, and future research is encouraged.