Examining the well-being of military spouses in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic using the Quality of Life survey

The Quality of Life (QOL) survey of military spouses is a critical mechanism to inform the Canadian Armed Forces in efforts to support military families. Conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2022 survey examined spouses' mental health and identified the challenges faced during this time, on top of the usual demands of military life. Consistent with results from past QOL surveys, the top issues that challenge civilian military spouses were relocation, primary health care, and spousal employment. Civilian military spouses who expressed concerns related to health, social connection, and employment also reported lower levels of well-being. Offering programs that can help address these concerns is important to support the well-being of military spouses. Introduction: Quality of Life (QOL) surveys have been administered to Canadian military spouses for almost two decades, providing valuable information on the health and well-being of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) families across multiple domains. In 2022, the QOL survey explored the key issues that military spouses faced during the COVID-19 pandemic while also navigating the various demands of military life. Methods: QOL survey respondents were asked a series of questions about the challenges they faced both in relation to the demands of military life and in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between these challenges and two indicators of well-being - mental health and thriving - among civilian military spouses who completed the survey (n = 1,016). Results: Consistent with past QOL results, the top issues that continue to challenge civilian military spouses include relocation, primary health care, and spousal employment. Notably, almost half of spouses underlined concerns about well-being and work-life balance, which may reflect the lingering effects of the pandemic. As well, despite evidence pointing toward decreased mental health among CAF spouses in the most recent survey, most respondents were thriving. Results of regression analyses emphasized concerns around health, social connection, and spousal employment as robust correlates of well-being. Discussion: Insights gained from the QOL surveys have enabled the CAF to take a pulse on spousal and family well-being over time, serving a key function in guiding the development of programs and policies that better support the needs of military families. Introduction : Des partenaires de militaires canadien(ne)s remplissent des sondages sur la qualit & eacute; de vie (QdV) depuis pr & egrave;s de deux d & eacute;cennies et fournissent de l'information pr & eacute;cieuse sur la sant & eacute; et le bien-& ecirc;tre des familles des Forces arm & eacute;es canadiennes (FAC) dans de multiples domaines. En 2022, le sondage sur la QdV portait sur les principaux enjeux que les conjoint(e)s de militaires avaient affront & eacute;s pendant la pand & eacute;mie de COVID-19 tout en naviguant les diverses exigences de la vie militaire. M & eacute;thodologie : Les r & eacute;pondants au sondage sur la QdV se sont fait poser une s & eacute;rie de questions sur les d & eacute;fis qu'ils avaient affront & eacute;s tant & agrave; l'& eacute;gard des exigences de la vie miliaire que dans le contexte de la pand & eacute;mie de COVID-19. Des analyses de r & eacute;gression ont & eacute;t & eacute; effectu & eacute;es pour examiner les associations entre ces difficult & eacute;s et deux indicateurs de bien-& ecirc;tre - la sant & eacute; mentale et l'& eacute;panouissement - parmi les conjoint(e)s civil(e)s de militaires qui ont r & eacute;pondu au sondage (n = 1 016). R & eacute;sultats : Conform & eacute;ment aux r & eacute;sultats ant & eacute;rieurs des sondages sur la QdV, les principaux enjeux qui continuent d'exercer des pressions sur les conjoint(e)s de militaires incluent la r & eacute;installation, les soins de sant & eacute; primaires et l'emploi des conjoint(e)s. Notamment, pr & egrave;s de la moiti & eacute; des r & eacute;pondant(e)s ont soulign & eacute; s'inqui & eacute;ter du bien-& ecirc;tre et de l'& eacute;quilibre entre le travail et la vie personnelle, ce qui peut s'expliquer par l'influence persistante de la pand & eacute;mie. De plus, malgr & eacute; les donn & eacute;es probantes qui font allusion & agrave; une diminution de la sant & eacute; mentale chez les conjoint(e)s des FAC au cours du sondage le plus r & eacute;cent, la plupart des r & eacute;pondant(e)s s'& eacute;panouissaient. Les r & eacute;sultats des analyses de r & eacute;gression ont fait ressortir des inqui & eacute;tudes au sujet de la sant & eacute;, des relations sociales et de l'emploi des partenaires, qui sont d'importants corr & eacute;lats du bien-& ecirc;tre. Discussion : Les points de vue obtenus dans les sondages sur la QdV ont permis aux FAC de t & acirc;ter le pouls du bien-& ecirc;tre familial et conjugale au fil du temps et ont & eacute;t & eacute; essentiels pour orienter l'& eacute;laboration de programmes et de politiques qui soutiendront mieux les besoins des familles de militaires.