Military‐related stress, self‐efficacy, and anxiety: Investigating the role of marital quality in military couples

Abstract

This study utilizes a stress process framework in conjunction with a crossover perspective to conceptualize how stress, specifically military‐related stress, manifests within individuals and couples. An actor–partner interdependence mediation modeling approach was used in a cross‐sectional sample of 243 military couples to examine whether difficulties managing military‐related stress may erode one's own self‐efficacy and, in turn, contribute to greater anxiety (actor effects) and/or one's partner's self‐efficacy and, in turn, anxiety (partner effects). Further, the potential moderating impact of marital quality was explicated in the model to understand if greater marital quality might buffer the impact of military‐related stress. There was support for the stress process model primarily regarding actor effects; fewer partner effects emerged. One's own perceptions of military‐related stress, specifically higher stress, were related to lower levels of their own self‐efficacy, and, consequently, higher anxiety, but military‐related stress did not directly affect the partner's self‐efficacy or anxiety. Both service members' and civilian spouses' marital quality had ramifications for civilian spouses' self‐efficacy, specifically a buffering effect; that was not the case regarding civilian spouse effects on the military member. Findings point to specific ways in which military stressors have implications for personal well‐being, the role of a strong couple relationship in buffering stress, especially for civilian spouses, and concomitant leverage points for supporting both individual and couple well‐being.

Impact of personality on cadet academic and military performance within mediating role of self-efficacy

“…It is especially true in the context of military performance, which refers to an individual’s belief in their own abilities to successfully perform specific tasks or achieve specific goals. Having a strong sense of self-efficacy in the military can lead to improved decision-making, adaptability, and overall mission success ( Bekesiene et al, 2022 ; Lucier-Greer et al, 2022 ; Qiu et al, 2023 ). It helps individuals to believe in their own abilities to perform their duties and contribute effectively to the team or unit.…”

Military Spouse Mental Health Outcomes After Receiving Short-Term Counseling Services

“…Additionally, the individual nature of the counseling may not have bolstered some of the family and community-level factors associated with resilience promotion. Previous researchers noted martial quality as a protective factor of mental health symptoms (Lucier-Greer et al, 2022), and social supports correlated to less anxiety and depression among military spouses (Ross et al, 2021). Therefore, the new, additive knowledge gained from this study may be found in the non-significant results, in that a more intentionally tailored counseling service may better address the clinical needs of military spouses, specifically to consider the known protective factors of resilience and how to target resiliency factors in interventions.…”

“…Another clinical modality to consider could be couples counseling. Lucier-Greer et al (2022) found that marital quality was a protective factor of mental health outcomes among both partners; therefore, couples counseling may be an adjunct service worth exploring as counselors assess the needs of their individual clients.…”