Role of military context and couple well-being in the psychological vulnerability of military wives in the United States
Research Report:
Research SummaryAPA Citation:
Lucier-Greer, M., & Campbell, D. R. (2024). Role of military context and couple well-being in the psychological vulnerability of military wives in the United States. Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health, 10(2), 37–46. https://doi.org/10.3138/jmvfh-2023-0065
Abstract Created by REACH:
Using a socioecological perspective emphasizing the influence of multiple environmental contexts on individuals, this study examined how aspects of military life and couple relationships contributed to the psychological vulnerability (i.e., depressive symptoms and personal well-being) of 222 Army wives. Military-related factors, including social support from the military community, satisfaction with military life, and total months separated from one’s husband due to deployment, were considered more distal influences on psychological vulnerability. Conversely, couple well-being, a latent variable reflective of marital quality, relationship communication satisfaction, and relationship warmth, was conceptualized as a more proximal indicator of psychological vulnerabilities. As anticipated, couple well-being was more strongly linked to wives’ psychological vulnerabilities than military-related factors.
Focus:
Mental health
Physical health
Couples
Other
Branch of Service:
Multiple branches
Military Affiliation:
Active Duty
Subject Affiliation:
Spouse of service member or veteran
Military families
Population:
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Methodology:
Quantitative Study
Authors:
Lucier-Greer, Mallory, Campbell, Debra R.
Abstract:
The psychological health of military spouses is essential for the health and readiness of the family system. Thus, it is essential to understand contextual and familial factors that play a role in the psychological vulnerability of military spouses. This study examined how aspects of military life (number of deployments, perceived social support from the military community, and assessments of military life satisfaction) and family life (namely, couple well-being) played a role in the psychological vulnerability (depressive symptoms and personal well-being) of 222 U.S. military wives. Results suggested that when military wives felt more social support from the military community, they typically reported greater well-being. Wives who were more satisfied with military life tended to indicate better couple well-being. In turn, greater couple well-being was linked to less psychological vulnerability, specifically, fewer depressive symptoms and higher well-being. Overall, the military context had some bearing on the psychological vulnerability of military wives, especially when they did not feel supported by the military community. Importantly, however, the couple relationship appeared to be the most salient factor associated with the psychological vulnerability of military wives. Promoting healthier couple relationships appears to be a potential leverage point for intervention.
Publication Type:
Article
REACH Publication
Keywords:
military wives, well-being, couples
REACH Publication Type:
Research Summary
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