Understanding the emotional and practical support needs of family care-partners of Veterans to promote well-being

Abstract: Introduction: There is limited research that explores the physical and psychological well-being of family care-partners of Australian Veterans. This article expands the understanding of the well-being of this group and identifies the emotional and practical supports required, whether supports were accessible, and the impact of caring on care-partner well-being. Methods: This mixed methods, cross-sectional research assessed physical and psychological health, health behaviours, resilience, and caregiving factors, using objective measures including the Kessler-10, International Physical Activity Questionnaire (short-form), 12-Item Short Form Survey, Brief Resilience Scale, Mental Health Continuum, Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory, and Caregiver Reaction Scale. Semi-structured interviews helped obtain deeper insights into the lived experiences of family care-partners. Results: A total of 103 surveys and 28 interviews were completed by family care-partners (97.1% female). The findings reflect a population with a high level of psychological distress, in the low end of normal resilience levels, and moderate mental health. The need for culturally safe services that accommodate working care-partners was identified, as was having support from people who understand the care-partner’s situation. Care-partners reported varied impacts of their caring roles on the ability to engage in day-to-day life. Discussion: Although cross-sectional, the evidence suggests that the psychological well-being of Veteran care-partners is impacted by their caring role, with far-reaching implications for care-partners and the Veteran family unit. Commitments from government and defence organizations are required to support Veteran family units from recruitment, through service, deployment, transition to civilian life, in retirement, and old age. Co-designed approaches are required to ensure access to the emotional and practical supports identified by care-partners.

Read the full article
Report a problem with this article

Related articles

  • More for Researchers

    Qualitative analysis of the lived experience of reproductive and pediatric health care in the military health care system

    Abstract: Introduction: Persistent inequities exist in obstetric and neonatal outcomes in military families despite universal health care coverage. Though the exact underlying cause has not been identified, social determinants of health may uniquely impact military families. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively investigate the potential impact of social determinants of health and the lived experiences of military individuals seeking maternity care in the Military Health System. Materials and methods: This was an Institutional Review Board-approved protocol. Nine providers conducted 31 semi-structured interviews with individuals who delivered within the last 5 years in the direct or purchased care market. Participants were recruited through social media blasts and clinic flyers with both maximum variation and homogenous sampling to ensure participation of diverse individuals. Data were coded and themes were identified using inductive qualitative research methods. Results: Three main themes were identified: Requirements of Military Life (with subthemes of pregnancy notification and privacy during care, role of pregnancy instructions and policies, and role of command support), Sociocultural Aspects of the Military Experience (with subthemes of pregnancy as a burden on colleagues and a career detractor, postpartum adjustment, balancing personal and professional requirements, pregnancy timing and parenting challenges, and importance of friendship and camaraderie in pregnancy), and Navigating the Healthcare Experience (including subthemes of transfer between military and civilian care and TRICARE challenges, perception of military care as inferior to civilian, and remote duty stations and international care). Conclusions: The unique stressors of military life act synergistically with the existing health care challenges, presenting opportunities for improvements in care. Such opportunities may include increased consistency of policies across services and commands. Increased access to group prenatal care and support groups, and increased assistance with navigating the health care system to improve care transitions were frequently requested changes by participants.

    Physical Health Peer reviewed