The military spouse experience of living alongside their serving/veteran partner with a mental health issue: A systematic review and narrative synthesis
Research Report:
Research SummaryAPA Citation:
Senior, E., Clarke, A., & Wilson-Menzfeld, G. (2023). The military spouse experience of living alongside their serving/veteran partner with a mental health issue: A systematic review and narrative synthesis. PLOS ONE, 18(5), Article e0285714. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0285714
Abstract Created by REACH:
This systematic review synthesized findings from 27 studies focused on military spouses’ experiences living with a Service member or Veteran (SM/V) partner with mental health difficulties. Themes across the literature revealed the physical and psychological burden of caring for a partner with mental health difficulties. Spouses often felt more like caregivers than partners, which impacted the quality of the couples’ relationship. Importantly, however, spouses mostly felt committed to their partner and the relationship.
Focus:
Couples
Veterans
Mental health
Branch of Service:
Multiple branches
International Military
Military Affiliation:
Active Duty
Veteran
Subject Affiliation:
Spouse of service member or veteran
Population:
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
Methodology:
Review of Literature
Authors:
Senior, Emma, Clarke, Amanda, Wilson-Menzfeld, Gemma
Abstract:
Introduction Military healthcare studies have reported a wide range of mental health issues amongst military personnel. Globally, mental health issues are one of the main causes of ill health. Military personnel have a greater prevalence of mental health issues than that of the general population. The impact of mental health issues can be wide and far reaching for family and carers. This systematic narrative review explores the military spouse experience of living alongside their serving or veteran partner with a mental health issue. Methods The systematic review performed was based on the PRISMA guide for searching, screening, selecting papers for data extraction and evaluation. Studies were identified from CINHAL, ASSIA, Proquest Psychology, Proquest Nursing & Allied Health source, Proquest Dissertations & Theses, ETHOS, PsychArticles, Hospital collection, Medline, Science Direct Freedom Collection and hand searching of citations and reference lists. Results Twenty-seven studies were included in the narrative synthesis. Five overarching themes from the experiences of military spouses’ living alongside their serving/veteran partners mental health issue were identified: caregiver burden, intimate relationships, psychological/psychosocial effects on the spouse, mental health service provision and spouse’s knowledge and management of symptoms. Conclusions The systematic review and narrative synthesis identified that the majority of studies focused on spouses of veterans, very few were specific to serving military personnel, but similarities were noted. Findings suggest that care burden and a negative impact on the intimate relationship is evident, therefore highlight a need to support and protect the military spouse and their serving partner. Likewise, there is a need for greater knowledge, access and inclusion of the military spouse, in the care and treatment provision of their serving partner’s mental health issue.
Publisher/Sponsoring Organization:
PLOS
Publication Type:
Article
REACH Publication
Author Affiliation:
Department of Nursing, Midwifery and Health, Northumbria University, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, ES
Department of Nursing, Midwifery and Health, Northumbria University, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, AC
Department of Nursing, Midwifery and Health, Northumbria University, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, GWM
Keywords:
PTSD, partner coping, caregiver burden
REACH Publication Type:
Research Summary
Sponsors:
This literature review is part of a larger PhD study funded Northumbria University.
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