Self-Care Among Military Spouses and Partners: Developing the Military and Veteran Spouse Self-Care Inventory (MVSSCI)

This study introduces the Military and Veteran Spouse Self-Care Inventory (MVSSCI), a concise, culturally adapted tool to measure self-care among military and veteran spouses and partners. The inventory was developed as part of an evaluation of the Veteran Spouse Resiliency Group (V-SRG), a peer-support program aimed at improving self-care and overall wellness for military spouses. The MVSSCI provides a practical and reliable measure for assessing self-care practices in this unique population.

The study involved developing and validating the MVSSCI through the following steps:

• Participants included 227 military and veteran spouses and partners, recruited via the V-SRG program and social media.
• Adapted the 69-item National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Self-Care Inventory (SCI) to a 15-item military-specific version.
• Conducted confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to confirm the five-factor structure (Physical, Psychological, Emotional, Spiritual, and Professional Self-Care).
• Assessed internal consistency and criterion, discriminant, and convergent validity.

The MVSSCI was found to be a reliable and valid tool for measuring self-care:

• The 15-item MVSSCI showed strong internal consistency and a high correlation with the original 69-item SCI.
• Discriminant validity was demonstrated by weak correlations with depression, anxiety, and social support measures.
• Convergent validity was confirmed with a strong correlation with perceived quality of life.
• The tool is concise and user-friendly, making it practical for use in both research and clinical settings.

The MVSSCI offers a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners working with military and veteran spouses. Its concise format improves usability and reduces respondent fatigue, making it suitable for program evaluations and clinical assessments. By identifying areas where self-care can be improved, the MVSSCI supports the design of targeted interventions to enhance the well-being of military and veteran spouses. This tool is particularly relevant for programs like the V-SRG, which focus on peer support and resilience-building among military families.