Military Spouses’ Perceptions of Their Resilience

BRIEF SUMMARY: This qualitative study used a transcendental phenomenological approach, which focuses on understanding participants' subjective lived experiences and minimizing researchers' assumptions, to explore 8 active-duty military spouses' perceptions of resilience. In semistructured interviews, spouses were asked to define resilience and discuss perceptions of their own resilience and resilience within the military culture. 6 themes were identified. Spouses collectively defined resilience as an individualized process of persevering through difficulties. To be resilient for their families when difficulties arose, spouses relied on their individual strength as well as the collective strength of the military spouse community. IMPLICATIONS FOR HELPING PROFESSIONALS − Work with military families to identify positive strategies for coping with stress and frequent or unpredictable changes; for example, suggest practical ways to incorporate mindfulness, physical activity, or hobbies into their daily routine. IMPLICATIONS FOR POLICY MAKERS AND MILITARY LEADERSHIP − Recognize that the expectation to demonstrate individual resilience can be a burden and provide resources to help individuals manage the demands of military life. − Facilitate connections among military spouses and identify strategies for connecting newer spouses with more experienced spouses. Cole, R., Ward, C., Quintana, T., & Burgin, E. (2024). Military spouses' perceptions of their resilience. The Professional Counselor, 14(1), 83-99. https://tpcjournal.nbcc.org/Journal/Vol14iss01/86/ NOVEMBER 2024 KEY FINDINGS − Spouses' definitions of resilience were shaped by their Service member and mission priority and largely focused on the process of persevering through difficult situations and adopting a positive mindset. Importantly, resilience was seen as something unique to each person, influenced by their distinct experiences and risk factors. − Challenges within the military lifestyle that required spouses to be resilient included feeling a lack of control over one's life and navigating constant changes, such as moving. − Spouses carried the burden of outside expectations of resilience. Spouses described pressure from the military and the civilian community alike to "suck it up." This pressure seemed to be driven by a disregard for their challenges and the misperception that military families were inherently or always resilient. − Spouses felt sole responsibility for their family's resilience in their Service member's absence and described the pressure of demonstrating resilience for the sake of their family. − To manage military-related stressors, spouses relied on their individual resilience, which consisted of prioritizing their personal wellness and maintaining an independent identity outside of being a military spouse. − The military spouse community was a source of collective resilience, considered necessary for spouses' survival, and driven by a shared understanding of the military lifestyle. Spouses felt pride in being able to support one another and desired more opportunities to connect with more senior military spouses. IMPLICATIONS FOR FAMILIES − Prioritize strengthening connections within the military community. Offer help and support to other military families to build relationships and bolster family resilience.