Reintegration: The Role of Spouse Telephone Battlemind
Abstract
Spouses of returning Iraq and Afghanistan military service members report increased depression and anxiety post deployment as they work to reintegrate the family and service member. Year-long telephone support groups designed to educate, build coping skills, improve access to services for veteran and family, and serve as a source of shared support were tested. There were 14 groups with 86 spouses. Each group met 12 times with a trained group leader. Spouse satisfaction with the groups was high. Over the course of the year, spouse depression and anxiety were decreased and social support was increased. Spouses reported a decreased level of concern about the effects of reintegration on their social life, their home life, their family, their husband, and themselves. These findings suggest that telephone support groups are a viable means of providing information, support, and skills to military spouses. Based on the study, the Department of Veterans Affairs is implementing a national program, Spouse Telephone Support, to provide telephone support groups to spouses of OEF/OIF/OND veterans. Staff at each VA Medical Center will be trained and staff manuals and spouse workbooks are being provided.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA555212
Entities
People
- Linda Nichols