Peer Support Groups for Military Family Resilience

((EFFRT) Trial)

Overseen By Elisa V Borah, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Texas at Austin

Disqualifiers: Separated, divorced

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

150 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Do I need to stop my current medications to join the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems focused on peer support rather than medication changes.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Group-based peer support for military family resilience?

Research shows that peer support groups can help veterans and their families by providing social support, improving community integration, and enhancing coping skills. These groups have been associated with better outcomes when combined with clinical care, suggesting they can be effective in helping military families build resilience. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is peer support generally safe for participants?

Peer support groups, including those for military families, are generally considered safe. They focus on shared experiences and mutual support, which can improve well-being and coping without significant safety concerns. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

How does the treatment 'Group-based peer support' differ from other treatments for military family resilience?

Group-based peer support is unique because it leverages shared experiences among participants to provide social support and community integration, which can enhance resilience in military families. Unlike traditional clinical treatments, it is community-based, cost-free, and focuses on mutual support rather than professional-led therapy, making it a natural and accessible option for families seeking to improve their coping and well-being. ^{2 4 6 9 10}

What is the purpose of this trial?

This study will adapt and test an established peer support program for military spouses that offers them significant weekly group-based support on an array of topics that affect their lives. The curriculum will be able to be used in-person through group meetings or virtually by using a web-based meeting platform. The near-term impact of this study is that scientific knowledge will be developed about how well a curriculum-based, weekly, in-person support group for military spouses is effective in improving spouses' quality of life, mental health, social support and knowledge of health conditions impacting service members. This study will assess whether offering military spouses support for coping with their mental health and social support needs to achieve a greater quality of life, a greater sense of social support and knowledge about and access to resources to address a range of issues they may be facing throughout their spouses' military careers. By educating them about the health conditions their service members may experience and how to support their recovery and access to treatment, service members will also benefit by having more familial support for seeking treatment. Educating family members about the injuries that SMs face will help to maintain stronger family relationships and reduce family relationship stress.

Research Team

Elisa Borah, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Texas at Austin

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for spouses or partners of service members stationed at Fort Hood who can commit to attending up to 10 weekly support group sessions. They should expect to stay in the area for at least 4 months. Separated or divorced individuals from service members are not eligible.

Inclusion Criteria

Participants must be married to or in a committed relationship with a service member stationed at Fort Hood

Participants must have a reasonable expectation of remaining at Fort Hood for at least 4 months

I am willing to attend 10 sessions of a support group at Fort Hood.

Exclusion Criteria

Spouses who are separated or divorced from a service member are not eligible to participate

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants receive group-based peer support through the Military Spouse Resiliency Group (M-SRG) program

12 weeks

Weekly group meetings (in-person or virtual)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in psychological health knowledge, depression symptoms, self-care practices, social support, and quality of life

3 months

Assessments at baseline, 2 weeks, and 3 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Group-based peer support

Trial Overview The study tests a peer support program aimed at improving military spouses' quality of life, mental health, and knowledge about health conditions affecting service members. It involves weekly group meetings that can be attended in-person or virtually.

Participant Groups

Group I: Intervention Active Control 1 Intervention

participants receive group-based peer support

Group II: Waitlist Active Control 1 Intervention

participants wait to receive peer support until pre and post assessments are complete with their matched intervention group

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Texas at Austin

Lead Sponsor

Trials

387

Recruited

86,100+

Findings from Research

Peer-led mutual support groups can be effective for veterans, especially when participants transition from clinician-led groups, as seen in a successful case at a Veterans Administration Medical Center.

The success of these groups may also depend on prior experiences in interpersonal process groups, which can enhance skills and cohesion among participants, facilitating a smoother shift to peer support.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Lessons learned from two peer-led mutual support groups. Viverito, KM., Cardin, SA., Johnson, LA., et al.[2019]

Peer support groups for veterans transitioning to civilian life have become more popular than visits to mental health professionals, providing essential social support and community integration at no cost.

Research indicates that participation in these groups leads to significant improvements in social support, clinical symptoms, self-efficacy, and coping skills, especially when combined with clinical care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Using peer support groups to enhance community integration of veterans in transition. Drebing, CE., Reilly, E., Henze, KT., et al.[2020]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Peer support in an outpatient program for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder: Translating participant experiences into a recovery model. [2020]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Lessons learned from two peer-led mutual support groups. [2019]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effect of peer support groups on family adaptation from the perspective of wives of war veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder. [2018]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Using peer support groups to enhance community integration of veterans in transition. [2020]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Veterans' Perspectives on Benefits and Drawbacks of Peer Support for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. [2017]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Family Readiness Groups: Helping deployed Army National Guard soldiers and their families. [2021]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Role of Peer Support Group in Subjective Well-Being of Wives of War Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. [2019]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Fostering resilience in National Guard and Reserve families: A contextual adaptation of an evidence-based parenting program. [2018]

9. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Soldier peer mentoring care and support: bringing psychological awareness to the front. [2019]

10. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Peer Support Activities for Veterans, Serving Members, and Their Families: Results of a Scoping Review. [2023]