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

Abstract

Background: Military families can experience unique stressors that may contribute towards poorer well-being among the spouses/partners of Service personnel. However, there is little UK research regarding mental health or alcohol consumption among this population. Objective: This study examined mental health outcomes (probable depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)) and alcohol consumption among UK military spouses/ partners compared to women in the general population. Associations with military and socio-demographic characteristics were examined. Method: Survey data from 405 female spouses/partners of current and former UK Service personnel participating in a study of military-connected children (2010-2012) was analysed. Comparisons to women in the general population were made using the 2007 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (n = 1594). Results: Compared to women from the general population, military spouses/partners were significantly more likely to meet criteria for probable depression (adj. OR 2.50 (95% CI 1.52-4.11)). There was no significant difference regarding probable PTSD. Spouses/partners were significantly more likely to meet criteria for hazardous alcohol consumption (adj. OR 2.55 (95% CI 1.87-3.47)) and more likely to report episodes of weekly, daily or almost daily binge-drinking (adj. OR 2.15 (95% CI 1.28-3.61)) than women in the general population. Binge-drinking was significantly higher among spouses/partners of Service personnel reporting family separations of more than 2 months in the last 2 years compared to those reporting no, or shorter, separations (adj. OR 1.88 (95% CI 1.08-3.27)). Conclusion: This is the first study to examine mental health and alcohol consumption among UK military spouses/partners. The significantly higher prevalence of probable depression, hazardous alcohol consumption, and binge-drinking compared to women in the general population suggests further research is needed into the drivers of poor mental health and alcohol consumption among this population and in identifying or developing prevention campaigns to reduce alcohol use and support their well-being.

Military and nonmilitary stressors associated with mental health outcomes among female military spouses

“…Most military families are resilient (National Academies of Sciences Engineering and Medicine, 2019). However, a subset of military spouses nevertheless experiences adverse outcomes in the context of war-related stress, including distress, depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and substance use (de Burgh et al, 2011;Eaton et al, 2008;Gribble et al, 2019;Kulak et al, 2019;Mansfield et al, 2010). To date, a focus on military-specific stressors (e.g., deployment) has largely obscured the impact of stress exposure unrelated to military service (e.g., adverse childhood experiences) on the wellbeing of military spouses.…”

Global Psychotrauma Screen (GPS): psychometric properties in two Internet-based studies

“…However, it is widely recognized that the immediate and long-term mental health consequences of exposure to potentially traumatic life events often extend beyond the symptoms of any single psychological disorder, be it PTSD or otherwise (e.g., Clemens et al, 2018 ; Gribble, Goodwin, & Fear, 2019 ; Hoppen & Morina, 2019 ; Kim et al, 2019 ; McLaughlin, Colich, Rodman, & Weissman, 2020 ; Nordin & Perrin, 2019 ; Pietrzak et al, 2015 ; Sambuco, Bradley, Herring, Hillbrandt, & Lang, 2020 ; Zoellner, Pruitt, Farach, & Jun, 2014 ). Rather, response to traumatic stressors tends to follow the principle of multifinality (Cicchetti & Rogosch, 1996 ) from myriad forms of resilience to psychopathology where similar stressors can lead to various transdiagnostic outcomes across different persons and cultures.…”

Working with British Army Families: A Qualitative Study of Child Protection Practitioners' Views and Experiences

“…Gribble, 2017; MoD, 2020; Pye and Simpson, 2017; Thandi et al ., 2017). Studies by the King's Centre for Military Health Research have provided insights into: military children's wellbeing (Williamson et al ., 2018); the prevalence and risks of unaddressed needs in the military community, including increased risk of mental health problems, alcohol use and aggression (Gribble et al ., 2019; Turgoose and Murphy, 2018); experiences of partners who support military‐traumatised personnel (Murphy et al ., 2017); and transgenerational transmission of traumatic and moral injury (Jones, 2018). These studies identify factors that affect how adults experiencing trauma and stress may face problems maintaining intimate relationships and providing consistent and emotionally responsive care to their children.…”