Loneliness In Military and Veteran Spouses: Insights from the Military and Veteran Spouse Wellness Survey

Background and Purpose:

Loneliness has been identified as a critical public health issue affecting populations worldwide. Military and veteran spouses are particularly at risk, as they face unique barriers to social connection, including frequent relocations and difficulties reintegrating into civilian communities (Mailey et al., 2018; Austin et al., 2020). The Military and Veteran Spouse Wellness Survey (MVSWS), conducted in fall 2024, explored wellness across SAMHSA's 8 Dimensions of Wellness. Loneliness emerged as a critical concern: 60% of spouses completing the loneliness scale (n = 861) scored moderate to severe loneliness, and 53.2% of all respondents (n = 1,150) identified finding community and/or friends as a current challenge. This study addressed the research question: What are the key predictors of loneliness among military and veteran spouses? Understanding these predictors is essential for developing targeted interventions to support military family readiness and well-being.

Methods:

This secondary data analysis utilized data from the MVSWS. The sample (n = 843) included active-duty spouses (54.9%), veteran spouses (39.9%), and Guard/Reserve spouses (5.7%). Loneliness was measured using the UCLA 3-Item Loneliness Scale; social support was assessed via the 8-item MOS Social Support Survey. Following bivariate analyses, multiple regression examined employment status (employed vs. unemployed), parental status (has young children up to age 3 vs. does not), caregiver status (yes/no), and social support (continuous scale 8-40).

Results:

The model was significant, F(4, 839) = 128.34, p <.001, explaining 38% of the variance in loneliness (R² =.380). Social support emerged as the strongest predictor (β = -.60, B = -0.13, p <.001). Employment status was also a significant predictor (β = -.09, B = -0.32, p =.006). Having young children (p =.406) and caregiver status (p =.906) were not significant predictors.

Conclusions and Implications:

Social support and employment status significantly predicted loneliness among military and veteran spouses, with social support showing the strongest relationship. Interventions strengthening social support networks, including peer support groups and spouse mentorship programs, should be prioritized. Employment assistance programs represent a critical intervention point, providing financial stability and social connection opportunities. Strategies may include portable career credentialing, remote work opportunities, and employer partnerships accommodating military relocations. Social workers can develop group-based interventions facilitating social connection while advocating for policies addressing employment barriers. Future research should examine mechanisms linking employment to social support, identify subgroups facing the greatest barriers, and test integrated interventions. Limitations include cross-sectional design, precluding causal inference.

References

Austin, G., Calvert, T., Fasi, N., Fuimaono, R., Galt, T., Jackson, S., Lepaio, L., Liu, B., Ritchie, D., Theis, N., Dockerty, J., Doolan-Noble, F., & McBride, D. (2020). Soldiering on only goes so far: How a qualitative study on Veteran loneliness in New Zealand influenced that support during COVID-19 lockdown. Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health, 6(S2), 60–69. https://doi.org/10.3138/jmvfh-CO19-0007

Mailey, E. L., Mershon, C., Joyce, J., & Irwin, B. C. (2018). “Everything else comes first”: A mixed-methods analysis of barriers to health behaviors among military spouses. BMC Public Health, 18(1), 1013. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5938-z