Family Factors and the Career Intent of Air Force Enlisted Personnel
Abstract
The impact of spouse attitudes and attributes on the career intent and job related attitudes of Air Force enlisted personnel was assessed using the Air Force's new Family Survey (AFFS) to measure spouse attitudes and the Organizational Assessment Package to assess the Air Force member's career intent and job attitudes. The Factor structure of the AFFS confirmed its potential utility for assessing critical family variables. Spouses generally viewed Air Force life as more stressful than civilian life, yet most continued to be supportive of and committed to the Air Force. Prominent sources of stress for these families were disruptions caused by work schedules, TDYs, and military exercises and recalls. Reduced employment opportunities and a reduction in family income attendant upon transfer to a new duty location were also viewed as having a negative impact on the family. It proved possible to predict the career intent and job satisfaction of Air Force members from spouse attitudes and other family variables, most importantly from the compatibility of the marital pair's work schedules, the positiveness of the spouse's view of the Air Force and, for career intent only, the perceived stressfulness of the Air Force member's job and of Air Force life for the family. Implications for Air Force policy are briefly discussed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1985
- Accession Number
- ADA164899
Entities
People
- Philip M. Lewis
Organizations
- Universal Energy Systems