https://aub.ie/MilitaryREACH-McCall2020

McCall, C. E., Rodriguez, K. E., MacDermid Wadsworth, S. M., Meis, L. A., & O’Haire, M. E. (2020). “A part of our family?” Effects of psychiatric service dogs on quality of life and relationship functioning in military-connected couples. Military Behavioral Health, 8(4), 410-423. https://doi.org/10.1080/21635781.2020.1825243

Guided by family systems theory, this study examined how the use of service dogs for Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may be associated with their partners’ individual functioning (e.g., mental well-being, quality of life, social and work functioning) and relationship functioning (e.g., couple satisfaction). Responses to self-report measures and open-ended questions were compared among 37 couples with a PTSD service dog and 23 couples on a waitlist to receive a service dog. Although scores on self-report scales did not support a clear link between service dogs and greater individual or relationship functioning by partners, responses to open-ended questions indicated a mix of benefits and challenges of having a service dog.

https://doi.org/10.1080/21635781.2020.1825243

Couples
Veterans

Air Force
Army
Marine Corps
Multiple branches
Navy

Veteran

Spouse of service member or veteran
Veteran

Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)

Cross-Sectional Study
Quantitative Study
Qualitative Study

McCall, Christine E., Rodriguez, Kerri E., Wadsworth, Shelley M. MacDermid, Meis, Laura A., O’Haire, Marguerite E.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can have corrosive impacts on family relationships and individual functioning. Emerging evidence has shown that psychiatric service dogs may be an effective complementary treatment for military veterans with PTSD, benefiting veterans’ mental and social health. However, few studies have examined the effects of psychiatric service dogs on the family members of veterans, specifically their partners. Mixed-methods data from 60 veteran-partner dyads examined individual and relationship functioning among partners of veterans paired with a service dog (service dog group; n = 37) and those awaiting placement (waitlist group; n = 23). While there were no statistically significant differences across groups, the effect sizes for group differences suggested that partners in the service dog group (relative to those on the waitlist) may experience higher levels of resilience and companionship, and lower levels of anger, social isolation, and work impairment. A topical survey of partner qualitative data within the service dog group indicated that service dogs provided more benefits than challenges. Partners reported improvements in veteran functioning, family relationships, and partners’ quality of life. Results, although preliminary, suggest that psychiatric service dogs may provide modest positive experiences for some veteran family systems.

Taylor & Francis

Article
REACH Publication

Military Family Research Institute, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, College of Health and Human Sciences, Purdue University, CEM
Center for the Human-Animal Bond, Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, KER
Military Family Research Institute, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, College of Health and Human Sciences, Purdue University, SMW
Center for Care Delivery & Outcomes Research, Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School, LAM
Center for the Human-Animal Bond, Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, MEO