Jonathan R. Olson

The Role of Natural Support Systems in the Post-deployment Adjustment of Active Duty Military Personnel

Abstract This study examined the relations among three different types of naturally occurring social support (from romantic partners, friends and neighbors, and unit leaders) and three indices of service member well-being (self reports of depressive symptoms, satisfaction with military life, and perceptions of unit readiness) for service members who did and did not report negative experiences associated with military deployment. Data were drawn from the 2011 Community Assessment completed anonymously by more than 63,000 USAF personnel. Regression analyses revealed that higher levels of social support was associated with better outcomes regardless of negative deployment experiences. Evidence of moderation was also noted, with all forms of social support moderating the impact of negative deployment experiences on depressive symptoms and support from unit leaders moderating the impact of negative deployment experience on satisfaction with military life. No moderation was found for perceptions of unit readiness. Subgroup analyses revealed slightly different patterns for male and female service members, with support providing fewer moderation effects for women. These findings may have value for military leaders and mental health professionals working to harness the power of naturally occurring relationships to maximize the positive adjustment of service members and their families. Implications for practices related to re-integration of post-deployment military personnel are discussed.

Relations Among Risk, Religiosity, and Marital Commitment

In this study, the authors examined the degree to which religiosity was related to marital commitment among married couples living in a highly religious but divorce prone area of the United States. They assessed whether church attendance, faith community support, and general religiosity were related to marital commitment and whether these variables buffered against the negative effects of known risks for marital distress. Results indicated that faith community support and general religiosity were significantly related to increased marital commitment among husbands and wives. Among wives, these variables buffered against the deleterious effects of low income on marital commitment. Based on these findings, the authors discuss implications for professionals who work with married couples.

Thriving in School: The Role of Sixth-Grade Adolescent–Parent–School Relationships in Predicting Eighth-Grade Academic Outcomes

The present study uses an ecological systems perspective to examine how parental involvement in school-related activities in sixth grade influences early adolescents’ school bonding and academic achievement in eighth grade. Results of multilevel models of multiple data sources (i.e., adolescents, parents, and principals) suggested that parents’ involvement in school, as reported by the adolescent in sixth grade, was a significant predictor of school bonding and academic grades in eighth grade. Furthermore, parent reports of guidance, support, and involvement in school and non-school activities were unrelated to their adolescents’ grades and school bonding. Finally, schools’ efforts to engage parents did not consistently predict an association between parental involvement and adolescent outcomes.

Applying Prevention and Positive Youth Development Theory to Predict Depressive Symptoms Among Young People

The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of depressive symptoms among adolescents using concepts drawn from two theoretical models that underlie popular youth-focused programs. Specifically, we assessed the degree to which family-level risk factors increase the likelihood of depressive symptoms, and the degree to which community and/or school-level protective/promotive factors either buffer against risk, or directly lead to lower levels of depressive symptoms. Results indicate that three of the four hypothesized risk factors were associated with elevated levels of depressive symptoms. In addition, the protective/promotive factors had more promotive than protective effects because they were directly related to lower levels of symptoms. Implications for youth-focused programming are discussed.

A Continuum of Evidence on Evidence-Based Programs: A New Resource for Use in Military Social Service Delivery

ABSTRACT Evidence-based programs can promote well-being; however, barriers to implementation exist. Barriers include lack of time to find evidence and lack of expertise among some practitioners in reading and evaluating evidence. A partnership among the Department of Defense Office of Military Community and Family Policy, the National Institute for Food and Agriculture, and Pennsylvania State University resulted in the development of a new information repository. The Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State (Clearinghouse) and the Clearinghouses Continuum of Evidence (Continuum) were designed to assist professionals in identifying evidence-based programs that can improve the well-being of military families (http://www.militaryfamilies.psu.edu). The development of the Continuum included reviews of existing rating systems, expert review, practical review, and inter-rater agreement checks. The Clearinghouse contains information on over 1,000 programs relevant to both civilian and military families. Topics include parenting, coping and resilience, child behavior, obesity, alcohol and substance use prevention, and mental health treatment; target audiences include children, youth, adults, and families. Empirical evidence and systematized criteria are used to place programs as Effective (Randomized Control Trial), Effective (Quasi-experimental), Promising, Unclear (+), Unclear (ø), Unclear (−), or Ineffective. The Clearinghouse provides information and encourages professionals to make informed decisions based on their needs and resources.

The power of a collaborative relationship between technical assistance providers and community prevention teams: A correlational and longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND Historically, effectiveness of community collaborative prevention efforts has been mixed. Consequently, research has been undertaken to better understand the factors that support their effectiveness; theory and some related empirical research suggests that the provision of technical assistance is one important supporting factor. The current study examines one aspect of technical assistance that may be important in supporting coalition effectiveness, the collaborative relationship between the technical assistance provider and site lead implementer. METHODS Four and one-half years of data were collected from technical assistance providers and prevention team members from the 14 community prevention teams involved in the PROSPER project. RESULTS Spearman correlation analyses with longitudinal data show that the levels of the collaborative relationship during one phase of collaborative team functioning associated with characteristics of internal team functioning in future phases. CONCLUSIONS Results suggest that community collaborative prevention work should consider the collaborative nature of the technical assistance provider - prevention community team relationship when designing and conducting technical assistance activities, and it may be important to continually assess these dynamics to support high quality implementation.

Variations in Predictors of Marital Satisfaction Across More Religious and Less Religious Regions of the United States

Numerous studies have focused on links between religiosity and marital outcomes. Results suggest that various aspects of religiosity predict outcomes such as marital satisfaction and commitment. However, less research has focused on identifying the processes by which these links occur. This study had two primary goals: (a) determine if perceptions of spousal values mediate associations between religiosity and marital satisfaction and (b) examine the degree to which predictors of marital satisfaction differ across different regions of the United States. Data were gathered from 1,513 married individuals living in Arkansas, Utah, and Vermont. Results indicated that religiosity and perceptions of several spousal values were significantly associated with increased marital satisfaction. Findings suggest little evidence of mediating effects of spousal values, but there was significant variation in findings across the three states.

Epidemiology of Partner Abuse Within Military Families

Partner abuse (PA) is a public health problem that affects a significant number of families. Experiencing PA places victims at risk for a variety of negative outcomes, including substance use or abuse, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and, in extreme cases, permanent injury or death. Furthermore, children who are exposed to PA are at risk for problems in the areas of cognitive functioning, self-esteem, psychological and emotional well‐being, interpersonal relationships, and behavior. Most of what is known about PA has accrued through studies of civilian families. In this article, the authors report the results of an in depth review of the epidemiology of PA in each branch of the military. Results revealed that most studies of the military have been conducted with Army families. Rates of nonclinically significant PA are higher in military samples than civilian samples. Men and women connected to the military engage in rates of mild to moderate PA at similar rates. Males in the military engage in more violent PA than do women. These findings are discussed within a prevention and risk/resilience framework. Practical suggestions for clinicians working with military personnel and families and ideas for future research are provided.

Gender Differences in Post-deployment Adjustment of Air Force Personnel: The Role of Wartime Experiences, Unit Cohesion, and Self-efficacy

Introduction With the changing roles of female military personnel, it is important to understand how wartime experiences and their impacts are similar and different for military men and women. This study examined gender differences in exposure to wartime events and post-deployment post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depressive symptoms, as well as mediators of these relations, in a large sample of male and female active duty Air Force personnel. Materials/Methods The study included data from male (N = 21,879) and female (N = 3,741) active duty Air Force personnel who had experienced at least one deployment and completed the anonymous U.S.A.F. Community Assessment (CA) Survey in 2011. Participants reported on the number of wartime events they experienced during deployment (e.g., discharging weapons, seeing dead bodies), their perceptions of self-efficacy and the cohesiveness of their units, and their depression and PTSD symptoms post-deployment. We examined mean-level differences between men and women on both independent (wartime experiences) and dependent (PTSD and depression symptoms) measures, basic correlations among variables, and mediation of the relations between wartime experiences and mental health outcomes by unit cohesion and self-efficacy. Results Participants reported exposure to 0-6 wartime events during deployment. A greater number of wartime events was associated with higher rates of PTSD and depression and lower ratings of unit cohesion and self-efficacy for both men and women. Men reported more wartime events, while women reported higher rates of PTSD and depression at all levels of exposure to wartime events, including zero. Depression and PTSD were most highly related to reports of being injured during deployment and feelings of danger of being killed. Unit cohesion partially mediated the relation between wartime experience and mental health for both men and women, but self-efficacy was a partial mediator only for women. Direct effects of wartime exposure on subsequent mental health were also observed for both groups. Conclusion There are similarities and differences in the wartime experiences of military men and women. Increased exposure to combat experiences is a risk factor for both groups. Women appear to have greater vulnerability to PTSD and depression at all levels of combat exposure, and also report lower levels of unit cohesion and self-efficacy. It is possible that interventions that boost self-efficacy and unit cohesion could promote resilience for combat-exposed military personnel. Because self-efficacy operated differently for men and women, the role of this variable in post-deployment adjustment should be examined more closely.

Effects of Religiosity, Forgiveness, and Spousal Empathy on Marital Adjustment

ABSTRACT This study focused on married couples in a region of the United States that previous research has identified as having high rates of both religiosity and divorce. As a result, this study was designed to examine the effects of religiosity, forgiveness, and spousal empathy on marital adjustment. To investigate these constructs, married couples in this region were recruited (n = 829) to participate in a cross-sectional, self-report telephone survey. Results indicate that religious service attendance and spousal empathy have direct positive effects on marital adjustment in European American married men; while religious service attendance, forgiveness, and spousal empathy have direct positive effects on marital adjustment in European American married women. Among African-American participants, only spousal empathy had a direct effect on marital adjustment for both men and women. Finally, spousal empathy moderated the association between previous marriage and current marital adjustment among European American married women.