Determinants of Health-Promoting Behaviors in Military Spouses During Deployment Separation

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to describe predictors of participation in health-promoting behaviors among military spouses. A total of 105 female spouses of currently deployed active duty military members were surveyed to determine their perceived stress and participation in the health-promoting behaviors of exercise, diet, checkups, substance use/avoidance, social behaviors, stress management/rest, and safety/environmental behaviors. Demographic and deployment information was also collected. Regression analyses showed perceived stress was predictive of several health behaviors including exercise, social behaviors, stress management/rest, and safety/environmental behaviors. Increased perceived stress was associated with decreased participation in these behaviors. Deployment factors predicted only dietary behaviors and stress management/rest. As the minimum anticipated length of the deployment increased, healthy dietary behavior decreased. Likewise, as the number of deployments experienced increased, stress management and rest decreased. Stress brought on by military deployment may have detrimental effects upon participation in a health-promoting lifestyle.

Examining Chronic Stress in Spouses of Active Duty Military Members

“…Other limitations of this major project arose from the methodology. In keeping with previous research studies (Green et al, 2013;Padden et al, 2011;Joseph & Afifi, 2010), men were excluded from the study participants. With the recent advent of woman in combat roles, more male spouses may find themselves in a similar set of circumstances that had once been reserved for female military spouses.…”

“…Using the Perceived Stress Scale, researchers found that stress was marginally increased during a spouse's deployment as compared to a normative sample of American woman. Military spouses appeared to feel their stress levels were not insurmountable; sixty percent of spouses studied denied feeling that stressors were insurmountable (Padden et al, 2011).…”

Social Media Communication Among Military Spouses: Review of Research and Recommendations for Moving Forward

“…Although most military spouses successfully cope with their additional responsibilities during deployment (Lester et al, 2010), research has documented elevated rates of depression, anxiety, and sleep problems among military spouses during deployment (Burton, Farley, & Rhea, 2009;Green, Nurius, & Lester, 2013;Mansfield et al, 2010). Lengthy deployments are also related to decreases in spousal participation in health-promoting behaviors, such as healthy diet and adequate rest (Padden, Connors, & Agazio, 2011).…”

Mental health outcomes and alcohol consumption among UK military spouses/partners: a comparison with women in the general population

“…Studies comparing the mental health of military spouses/partners to women in the general population are also scarce, making it difficult to determine if there are additional or particular needs in this population. Those that have been conducted suggest significantly higher depression and PTSD among US and Australian spouses/partners compared to community samples, although similar levels of alcohol use (Alessi, Ray, Ray, & Stewart, 2001;Lester et al, 2010;O'Toole et al, 2010;Padden, Connors, & Agazio, 2011;Westerink & Giarratano, 1999).…”