Exploring the experiences of wounded veterans participation in adapted sports and recreation

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of wounded veterans’ participation in adapted sports and recreation through programs offered by Operation Comfort in San Antonio, Texas using a phenomenological lens. Data was generated through close observations and semi-structured interviews over the course of two months in which programs ran twice a week. A selective/highlighting thematic analysis was conducted on the transcribed interviews and field notes. The thematic analysis revealed four themes: self-renewed confidence, sense of purpose, veteran social support, and transition out of the military. The findings from this qualitative study were discussed in the context of the situated learning theory (Lave and Wenger, 1991; Wenger, 1998).