Military Spouses Stationed Overseas: Role of Social Connectedness on Health and Well-Being

ABSTRACT

Living abroad provides both stressors and opportunities for the accompanying spouse. The present study on military spouses examined the relationship between social connectedness and attitudes toward the military as well as their health. Survey data were collected with 115 military spouses in 2 U.S. Army installations in Europe. Linear regressions indicated that greater social connectedness was significantly associated with higher rates of marital satisfaction, lower psychological distress, and fewer physical health symptoms. Results highlight the importance of social connectedness beyond just having community resources available in supporting the adjustment of spouses accompanying soldiers on overseas assignments.

KEYWORDS:

• Social connectedness
• military spouse
• OCONUS
• expatriate
• mental health
• well-being
• marital satisfaction

Funding

This article was supported by funding from the Department of the Army.