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: The unique demands of military life can adversely impact romantic relationships; however, research has mainly focused on these adverse outcomes at one-time point, overlooking changes over time or potential positive outcomes. Using a subsample of 3,845 male and female military personnel and veterans from a large UK dataset, this study examined positive and negative changes in relationship satisfaction between two-time points (2007–2009; 2014–2016). Most participants reported no change in their relationship satisfaction, suggesting stability − 8% reported a positive change and 10% a negative change. Positive change was associated with being in a long-term relationship, alcohol misuse remission, and persistent alcohol misuse. Negative change was associated with the onset of mental health problems (probable PTSD, CMD, or alcohol misuse) and having children under 18. Some factors, like increasing age, childhood family relationship adversity, and mental health problems, were associated with both positive and negative changes in relationship satisfaction. This study highlights the complexity of factors associated with relationship satisfaction among military personnel and veterans, with some experiencing positive changes, as well as negative changes over time.