Military Stress-Busting Program for Family Caregivers
Abstract
Purpose: To improve the quality of life of military family caregivers to help manage stress and cope better. Design: Feasibility study using RE-AIM framework and mixed methods to adapt the evidence-based Stress-Busting Program to military context. Methods: Program content adapted to military context; 9-session intervention provided in small groups with two facilitators. Data collected at baseline, exit, and 2 months post-intervention, with interviews at one year post-intervention. Sample: Procedure: contact as many possible family caregivers of wounded warriors, self-identified as needing assistance with coping. Mostly female, White, and Hispanic spouses, 98 enrolled, 82 completed the intervention, 62 completed the full data collection. Analysis: Longitudinal cohort design using repeated measures. Because average scores of groups were not appropriate for analysis due to large variability of individual differences, each person served as own control; individual changes from baseline to post-intervention provided basis for assessment. Qualitative descriptive analysis of data collected on questionnaires, interviews, and facilitator notes. Findings: Caregivers reported study to be very effective; they acquired skills to change their behaviors, thinking, and family interactions, thereby improving their quality of life. It gave them permission to care for themselves; they shared these skills with their wounded warriors and family members. Caregivers had statistically significant decreases in perceived stress, depression, anxiety, and somatization; these findings were sustained two months post-intervention. A pattern of reduction in psychological symptoms was statistically significant at exit assessment and maintained at 2-month follow-up. Insomnia scores showed a statistically non-significant decline. Scores reflecting Spiritual Well-Being increased to statistical significance at 2-months.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 20, 2014
- Accession Number
- ADA608259
Entities
People
- Denise A. Williams
Organizations
- University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio