SOCIAL ADAPTATION OF SERVICEMEN IN MODERN SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE

Abstract

Abstract. A lack of consensus on definition, functions and final purposes of social adaptation of servicemen and their family members is one of the key problems of the process. On one hand, this situation suggests the complexity and multiplicity of the process, on the other hand, it reflects diversity of views on social adaptation of servicemen, which is present in society. Undoubtedly, the scientific literature on the problem echoes with this variety of thoughts. The article is devoted to analysis of the views of modern national and foreign authors on the content, functions, and aims of the process of social adaptation of servicemen. Twenty two preselected scientific papers, published after 2000, have been explored using qualitative text analysis. Relevance to the problem of social adaptation has been employed as a main selection criterion. The publications predominantly devoted to social psychological, psychological, medical etc. aspects of servicemen adaptation were deliberately excluded from the study. Interpretation of the data denotes adjustment of servicemen to the labor market conditions as a prevailing understanding of social adaptation in Ukrainian scientific literature. However, progressive diversification of the views, apparently caused by increased number of empirical studies, is evident. In respect to foreign, mainly English, scientific publications, significantly broader scope of definitions has been detected. Obviously, this reflects implication of wide range of theoretical approaches and concepts. Social adaptation is considered in a broader context of social, economic, political, historical, cultural, gender etc. factors. Special attention is paid to rethinking of the role of servicemen in the process of their social adaptation.