Support for Spouses of Postdeployment Service Members

Spouses/significant others of service members who served in Iraq or Afghanistan (n = 228) were randomized into three study arms: telephone support groups, education webinars, and usual care. Telephone support groups and education webinars met 12 times during six months. Outcomes included depression, anxiety symptoms, resilience, personal/family coping, and family communication. Participants in all three study arms improved over time despite dealing with care challenges for an injured service member or not yet being adjusted to the service member's return in some way. All participants attributed benefit to improved self-efficacy. Findings suggest multiple avenues can be used to support families postdeployment.