Comparing Advice from Military Parents,Partners, and Veterans about How Families Can Encourage Service Members to Seek Behavioral Health care |
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| Authors: | Steven R Wilson Daniel Kamal Skylar N Winter Elizabeth Dorrance Hall Patricia E Gettings Linda Hughes Kirchubel |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Communication, University of South Florida;2. Brian Lamb School of Communication, Purdue University;3. Department of Communication, Michigan State University;4. Department of Communication Studies, Indiana University Southeast |
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| Abstract: | This study compared advice that three groups—military parents, partners, and Veterans—gave regarding how military families can encourage service members (SMs) to seek professional help when needed. Based on identity implications theory and the normative model of social support, common themes regarding how families might pursue task, relational, and identity goals were expected (RQ1). Based on their unique positions, we investigated whether the three groups stressed different themes (RQ2). Military parents (n = 51), partners (n = 74), and Veterans (n = 112) read a scenario in which a SM was having difficulty reintegrating after deployment; all three groups offered advice about how military families should handle similar situations. Common themes regarding task, relational, and identity goals emerged in the advice from all three groups; however, parents, partners, and Veterans also differed significantly in how often they mentioned six themes. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. |
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