This study will adapt and test an established peer support program for military spouses that offers them significant weekly group-based support on an array of topics that affect their lives. The curriculum will be able to be used in-person through group meetings or virtually by using a web-based meeting platform.
The near-term impact of this study is that scientific knowledge will be developed about how well a curriculum-based, weekly, in-person support group for military spouses is effective in improving spouses’ quality of life, mental health, social support and knowledge of health conditions impacting service members.
This study will assess whether offering military spouses with support for coping with their mental health and social support needs they achieve greater quality of life, greater sense of social support and knowledge about and access to resources to address a range of issues they may be facing throughout their spouses’ military careers. By educating them about the health conditions their service members may experience and how to support their recovery and access to treatment, service members will also benefit by having more familial support for seeking treatment. Educating family members about the injuries that SMs face will help to maintain stronger family relationships and reduce family relationship stress.
Based on findings of the study, this curriculum will be published and available to military organizations in all branches to increase their programming to military spouses.