A qualitative study of the capabilities of family members of Veterans living with operational stress injuries

Abstract: Objective: This qualitative study explores the experiences of 26 family members supporting Canadian Armed Forces veterans living with mental health problems including operational stress injuries (OSIs). Background: The research focusing on military‐connected families emphasizes the impacts of service on the families. Little is known about how families impact military veterans, particularly those diagnosed with OSIs. This research addresses that gap by revealing the capabilities and demands characterizing their everyday lives. Method: Semistructured interviews with 26 individuals identifying as family members of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) veterans and three focus groups (three participants in each group for a total of nine) with family members of CAF veterans released within the preceding 10 years were conducted. The veterans were living with broadly defined diagnosed and undiagnosed mental health problems including OSIs. Using the family adjustment and adaptation (FAAR) model as an organizational framework, demands and capabilities embodied within the everyday lives of the family members were revealed. Results: Monitoring the well‐being of the veteran, managing daily life, accessing and mobilizing resources, and caregiving were discussed as capabilities by participants in this study. These capabilities buffer the demands associated with the veteran's mental health problems. Conclusions: Results of this study endorse recommendations for family‐centered program and service development, modeled on approaches that recognize the systemic and relational contexts instrumental in supporting positive outcomes for veterans with OSIs. Implications: Further research exploring the complex, interdependent, and interactional role of families supporting veterans with OSIs is warranted.

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