REACH

Resource | Empower | Advocate | Connect | Heart

About the Study

This study will pilot a peer support program, funded by the United States Department of Defense (DoD) Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP). This study will gauge the effectiveness of how a curriculum-based, weekly, support group for military spouses can improve spouses’ quality of life, mental health, social support, self-care practices, and knowledge of health conditions impacting service members.

The positive effects of social support for spouses are far-reaching. Not only do peers offer valuable information about available resources, the impact of peer-to-peer connection has also been found to improve spouses’ mental health and quality of life. In addition to the positive impacts experienced by spouses on an individual level, when spouses improve their understanding of how to support their service member’s psychological health risks and concerns, service members can similarly benefit by having more familial support when seeking treatment. In addition, the presence of peer support can help to maintain strong family relationships and reduce family relationship stress. Based on study findings, this curriculum will be published and available to military spouses in all branches.

Thank you to our discussion group participants

We conducted a series of discussion groups in March and April 2023 to learn from Army Spouses about their experiences. The feedback we gathered in these groups will be used to ensure this study’s peer support curriculum will be inclusive and representative of the needs and goals most important to active duty spouses. Thank you so much to all who participated in these groups!

Eligibility to Participate

The REACH study will begin recruiting participants in Fall 2023. Completion of study surveys will include financial compensation. Eligibility requirements include being a military spouse or committed partner who is:

  • Married to or in a committed relationship with an active-duty Soldier at Fort Cavazos
  • Planning to remain at Fort Cavazos for at least four months upon entering the study
  • Willing to attend in-person sessions of the program once/week for 10 weeks 

Contact Study Coordinator, Aubrey Harvey at aubrey.harvey@austin.utexas.edu to learn more about the study.

More About the Study

The peer support program in this study is an adaption of the Veteran Spouse Resiliency Group (V-SRG) program, currently offered within the Institute’s Veteran Spouse Network, which has delivered innovative peer support programming with veteran spouses since 2017.

This military spouse-informed peer support curriculum will be designed to facilitate group discussion across a variety of topics that are important to the military spouse/partner experience, allowing group participants to share their challenges, strategies, and successes, while both receiving and providing support and guidance to their peers. While the majority of the curriculum is discussion-based, sessions also include educational content, skill-building exercises, activities, and conversation sparks in the form of videos and excerpts.