Comparing strategies to help spouses of service members cope with deployment
Research SummaryAPA Citation:
Nichols, L. O., Martindale-Adams, J., Zuber, J., Graney, M., Burns, R., & Clark, C. (2017). Comparing strategies to help spouses of service members cope with deployment. Military Behavioral Health, 5(2), 137-146. doi:10.1080/21635781.2016.1272018
Abstract Created by REACH:
Deployment-related stressors can negatively impact the emotional, physical, and psychological well-being of military spouses. Helping spouses cope with deployment-related stressors may improve their well-being. Partners of deployed Service members were randomly assigned to either a telephone support group or webinar intervention both aimed at promoting coping skills and reducing the negative effects of deployment (e.g., depression, anxiety). Partners who engaged in either intervention showed significant improvements and reported benefits of participating.
Focus:
Couples
Deployment
Mental health
Programming
Branch of Service:
Army
Multiple branches
Navy
Military Affiliation:
Active Duty
Guard
Reserve
Subject Affiliation:
Spouse of service member or veteran
Population:
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
Methodology:
Longitudinal Study
Empirical Study
Qualitative Study
Authors:
Nichols, Linda O., Martindale-Adams, Jennifer, Zuber, Jeffrey, Graney, Marshall, Burns, Robert, Clark, Carolyn
Abstract:
This study compared 2 interventions to help military spouses adapt to change during deployment. Participants were randomized into telephone support groups and education webinars. Both interventions provided information on deployment, coping strategies, and resources. Webinar participants showed significantly more improvement than support participants for anxiety; participants in both arms improved significantly in resilience, depression, anxiety, and coping. Participants attributed benefit to support from others and the military; improved self-efficacy including learning coping skills, decreasing stress, and accessing resources; and sharing learning by helping others and the service member. Findings suggest that multiple avenues can help military spouses cope with deployment.
Publisher/Sponsoring Organization:
Taylor & Francis
Publication Type:
Article
REACH Publication
Author Affiliation:
Veterans Affairs Medical Center Memphis, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, LON
Veterans Affairs Medical Center Memphis, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, JMA
University of Tennessee Health Science Center, JZ
Veterans Affairs Medical Center Memphis, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, MG
University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Geriatrics Group of Memphis, RB
Veterans Affairs Medical Center Memphis, CC
Keywords:
military, deployment, families, spouses, online education, learning and skills acquisition-cognition, telephone support
REACH Publication Type:
Research Summary