Health and wellbeing

Available evidence supports a positive impact of sport and active recreation participation on health, wellbeing, and quality of life for veterans. ^{8, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 64, 65, 66}

• An analysis of program participants in the University of South Australia, Invictus Pathways Program (IPP) found that it was beneficial for the participating veterans, irrespective of their physical and psychological health status. Participants described positive impacts on their physical fitness, social engagement, and sense of belonging. Participants perceived the IPP to be an opportunity for them to ‘give back’ by contributing to the education of the students delivering the IPP. Participants also reported the intention to continue being physically active. For some, this meant selection in an Invictus Games team; for others, getting involved in community sporting organisations. ³¹
• A 2023 study of 146 active-duty personnel in the United Kingdon (UK) who attended a five-day multiactivity and adventurous training courses (MAC) twelve months prior found 74% reported positive behaviour changes. The authors suggest that recovery support programmes like the MAC – that encompass health coaching adventurous activities – can initiate long-term positive behaviour change for military personnel recovering from injuries. ³
• Analysis of a 2022 intervention for physically injured military veterans using competitive motorsport found various psychological and physical benefits, including an increased sense of accomplishment, opportunity to socialise in a non-clinical environment, embracement of body image, and adoption of a healthier lifestyle. ¹⁰
• An analysis of the DVA Active Choices program in 2021 found that the number of participants meeting physical activity guidelines (150mins/week of moderate-to-vigorous PA) increased from 16% to 40%. 46% also felt more socially connected by the end of the program, and 76% reported psychological wellbeing benefits such as improved mood and sense of achievement through self-managing their physical activity regimes. Self-reported anxiety and depression also improved, with 40% reporting no issues at follow-up, compared to 26% at baseline. Many participants also spent less time and money seeing exercise physiologists and/or physiotherapists and had increased their ability to self-manage their conditions. ³²
• A 2021 study of 74 veterans in the United States (US) who attended a 5-day recreation program found that the program reduced depression/anxiety among participants and increased positive affect and social functioning. Improvements were found regardless of which activities (cycling, surfing, sailing, kayaking, and archery/pickleball) were undertaken, or in what order. However, the outcomes weren’t maintained, returning to baseline levels by the 3-month follow-up. The authors suggest that continued engagement in similar activities is required to maintain social and mental wellbeing gains. ³³
• A study of Australian Defence Force (ADF) veterans who participated in training and preselection for the Invictus and Warrior Games form 2018-2020 found that 78% of respondents reported greater engagement in physical activity after participation, and 89% reported that they had experienced a positive effect on their rehabilitation pathway. ³⁴
• A 2021 study investigated a dedicated, 9-day sport program identified improved self-representations related to both the person and their body, and reduced PTSD symptoms in veterans. The authors suggest that sport can be a path to the reappropriation of a positive image of the self, by improving the representation of the body and that rehabilitation programs for people with chronic PTSD should include sporting activities as well as highlighting the benefits of sport to participants. ³⁵
• Analysis of a US based one-day adaptive kayaking and sailing activity (Heroes on the Hudson) indicated that the event had an acute positive influence on the quality of life of veteran participants, with improvements observed in perceived overall health, quality of life, and quality of social life. ³⁶
• A study in the UK with Armed Forces Veterans experiencing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) found that participating in peer outdoor experiences (including angling, equine care, archery and falconry combined) led to significant reductions in PTSD symptoms, and that these types of experiences could be complement other existing treatments and services for veterans with PTSD. ³⁷
• A 2019 evaluation of 15 veterans participating in a program that provided scuba diving qualifications alongside a peer support buddy system (Deptherapy) reported improvements in levels of anxiety, depression and social functioning, and a reduction in insomnia. Semi-structured interviews indicated that the improvements were more pronounced in those whose injuries were predominantly psychological, rather than physical. ³⁸
• A 2018 evaluation of the experiences of 95 US veterans who participated in a surfing program found that participants experienced an average 36% decrease in PTSD symptoms, a 47% decrease in depression, and a 68% increase in self-efficacy. ³⁹
• A 2018 survey of participants in the National Veterans Wheelchair Games (NVWG) found that 50% of the respondents stated that the NVWG made a difference in attaining employment. Those currently working were 1.5 times more likely to say that the NVWG had a positive effect on employment than those not currently working. Those who felt that the NVWG had a positive effect on employment attended 3-4 more wheelchair games on average than those reporting no impact on employment. The authors suggest that participating in the NVWG provides psychosocial support to the veterans and may have a positive influence in employment outcomes. ⁴⁰
• In a 2018 US study of wounded military personnel, noncompetitive activities (e.g. rock wall climbing, community golf driving range) significantly increased positive physical activity affect and tranquillity, while reducing negative affect from pre to post within Group 1. Group 2 participated in a wheelchair basketball tournament that did not appear to have the same positive impact as Group 1 activities. A significant increase between pre and post activities existed for fatigue within each group. ⁴¹
• A 2017 longitudinal study utilising a convenience sample of 163 veterans (91 sports-participants and 72 non-participants) matched on disability type with a variety of disabilities found that those who participated in sports, exercise, and recreation (SER) activities had significantly higher self-esteem, posttraumatic growth, and quality of life (QOL), and significantly lower depression scores than non-participants. Individuals participating in a combination of SER activities had significantly higher self-esteem scores than those only participating in individual events. The psychosocial benefits investigated appeared to be more related to the participation in SER itself and not necessarily the type or intensity of the activity. ²⁹
• A case study of participants at the 2016 Invictus Games found that participants improved their physical abilities and competence, and that competing in sport activities could contribute to positive psychological changes through providing a sense of purpose and a release for aggression. ⁶
• A 2016 study of female US veterans' participation in outdoor sports and recreation found that the activities provided novel environments where physical skills and emotional capacities could be developed. This included establishing social networks and bonding, facilitating a sense of freedom from constraints, and providing opportunities to redefine or recapture participants' identities. ⁷
• A 2015 study of US veterans found significant reductions in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) post-discharge including for those who had discharged more recently. The authors suggested interventions during early transitional stages could help veterans to remain engaged in physical activity, which could in turn prevent excess weight gain and other negative health consequences linked to physical inactivity. ⁴²
• A 2015 study found that surfing facilitated a sense of respite from PTSD in combat veterans. Regular surfing facilitated respite by helping the participants stay focused on experiences in the present and avoiding dwelling on the traumatic memories. Surfing also gave the veterans a context to relate to one another in a positive fashion, and something concrete to look forward to that helped prevent them from ruminating over their memories in between bouts of respite (surfing). The authors highlighted how nature-based physical activity (the ‘blue gym’) could promote well-being among combat veterans. ⁴³
• A 2014 systematic review found that sport and physical activity could enhance motivation for living as well as subjective well-being in veterans through active coping and doing things again, reducing PTSD symptoms, positive affective experiences, activity in nature/ecotherapy, and quality of life. ²⁸
• A study of 98 US veterans who attended extended group-based nature recreation experiences (4–7-day programs with activities like fishing, kayaking, whitewater rafting, backpacking, hiking, mountain biking, paddle boarding, and canoeing) found significant improvements in psychological wellbeing, social functioning, and life outlook one week after participation. Some improvements lasted over the next month, but to a lesser extent. ⁴⁴

Challenges

Several reviews and research papers have highlighted that the physical, mental and social health of veterans are interconnected, and that programs should provide integrated approaches to improve overall health and wellbeing. ^{11, 25,46, 47, 48}

Once the competition, short-term program, or event ends some veterans report feeling a lack of motivation and goals, ‘the blues’. This suggests that for long-term health and wellbeing benefits it’s important to help veterans to understand that this might occur, and to have alternative and/or longer-term activities available. ^{33, 43, 44, 45, 64}

Recognising this, in 2025 Invictus Australia hosted their first 'Beyond the Games Decompression Camp' in partnership with the Australian Defence Force. The camp aimed to not only provide an opportunity for participations to reflect on their Games experiences and reconnect with fellow team members, but to provide tools, networks and pathways to help participants continue to engage in sport in various roles, such as continuing competition, coaching, volunteering, or recreational participation. ⁶³