Publication year
2003
Citation Title
Military community integration and its effect on well-being and retention.
Journal Name
Armed Forces & Society
Journal Volume
30
Issue Number
1
Page Numbers
24-Jul
DOI
10.1177/0095327X0303000101
Summary
Using data from Active Duty and Reserve component Soldiers' spouses, the authors examined the relationship between military community integration, spousal well-being, and spouse preference for his/her Soldier to remain in the Army. Overall, integration in the military community was low. No relationships emerged between military community integration and numerous indices of well-being.
Key Findings
Community integration was low for both Active Duty and Reserve component spouses; Reserve component spouses reported lower community integration than Active Duty spouses.
There was no association between community integration and several measures of well-being.
Military community integration did slightly influence spouse's desire for the Soldier to remain in the Army.
Implications for Program Leaders
Educate military families about the health benefits of feeling connected and supported by their military or civilian communities
Engage military families in community activities (e.g., picnics, dances, parenting groups) aimed at enhancing military community integration
Publish information regarding programs and service offered to Active Duty, Reserve, and National Guard families to increase service utilization
Implications for Policy Makers
Continue to support programs that offer on-base recreational facilities (e.g., gymnasiums, parks) that allow military families opportunities to interact with each other
Encourage collaboration between DoD and community-based programs that support military families to increase families' connection to military and community services
Recommend education to unit commanders regarding the services available to military families so that they can make appropriate recommendations when necessary
Methods
Army units who participated in a larger study about Soldiers' community integration were asked to send contact information of spouses for the current study.
Questionnaires were mailed to spouses of Active Duty, Reserve, and Guard Soldiers stationed in the continental United States.
The current study compared Active Duty spouses to Reserve/Guard spouses.
Participants
Participants included 131 spouses of Active Duty Soldiers, 398 spouses of Army National Guard Soldiers, and 174 spouses of Army Reservists.
The majority of participants were White (89%).
The mean age of spouses is not reported; however, Active Duty spouses tended to be younger than Reserve/Guard spouses.
Limitations
Participants were from the Army only; therefore, results may not be generalizable to other service branches.
Utilizing a sample of spouses with a non-deployed Service member may bias the results, as service utilization is typically higher during deployment.
Reliance on a single self-report measure at a single time point makes it difficult to draw firm conclusion.
Avenues for Future Research
Utilize a more representative sample of Active Duty and Reserve Service members and their spouses from all branches of service
Explore other sources of support military spouses utilize besides the military community
Examine the effectiveness of military community integration efforts particularly for Reserve and Guard families
Focus
Army
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Branch
Military Component
Abstract
This study examined psychosocial issues within Army families and the contribution of support networks to spouses' well-being and to their desire that their soldiers remain in the Army. Data from a self-administered questionnaire were analyzed for 137 spouses from the active duty component, 410 from the National Guard, and 174 from the reserve. Differences among the three groups were found with regard to both the composition of their social support networks as well as their use of such networks. Use of support was associated with well-being, but not with retention.
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