Applying behavioural insights to successful transition
Abstract: Each year, thousands of people sign up to serve in the UK’s Armed Forces. The commitment is all encompassing: irregular hours and time away from loved ones, often in dangerous situations. Families of Service personnel mirror this commitment, often uprooting their lives every few years for a new posting and managing a household singlehandedly for prolonged periods of time. Although frequent relocation can be challenging, the move back to civilian life – a move made by 15,000 serving personnel each year – can be the hardest of all. Families play a key role in supporting their serving person to successfully transition out of the Armed Forces and as such, there is an increased call to better understand and recognise their transition experience. Commissioned by Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT), The Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) have been working to answer two questions: 1. How do families of Service personnel experience transition? 2. How can insights from research with families, coupled with an in-depth understanding of human behaviour, be used to improve the transition process?
Abstract: Objective: The present study is a retrospective quasi-experimental study to evaluate the effectiveness of the Warrior PATHH (WP) program at improving posttraumatic growth (PTG) outcomes and reducing PTSD symptoms compared to a waitlist control among a sample of Veterans. Method: Participants (n = 164) were U.S. military Veterans with a history of trauma. Participants were either undergoing the Warrior PATHH program or a waitlist. Primary outcome measures were administered at baseline and at 90-day follow-up and consisted of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory – Expanded (PTGI-X) and the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Secondary outcome measures assessed psychosocial functioning and included measures of depression and anxiety symptoms, sleep, wellbeing, and social support. Results: Significant differences were observed between groups on the PTGI-X (F(1, 205) = 23.667, p < .001, partial η2 = 0.103), and the PCL-5 (F(1, 205) = 262.460, p < .001, partial η2 = 0.561) with the WP group showing significant positive psychological change following a traumatic event as measured by the PTGI-X and decreased PTSD symptoms as measured by the PCL-5 compared to those in the waitlist condition. Those in the treatment arm also demonstrated gains to psychosocial functioning. Conclusions: Consistent with previous research, participants in the Warrior PATHH program exhibited significant increases in PTG outcomes, decreased PTSD symptoms, and broad improvements to psychosocial functioning. These findings suggest it is an effective training program to foster PTG outcomes among Veterans. This study is unique as it is the first to compare the effects of WP programming with a sample of waitlisted Veterans.