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

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to evaluate how effectively a peer support program enhances the quality of life and mental health of military spouses. The program includes weekly group meetings, available in-person or online, to discuss relevant topics and provide social support. It seeks spouses of service members stationed at Fort Hood who can attend up to 10 sessions and plan to remain there for at least four months. Participation allows spouses to learn about health issues affecting service members, potentially strengthening family ties and reducing stress. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity for participants to contribute to valuable research that could improve support systems for military families.

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 prior data suggests that this peer support program is safe for military spouses?

Research has shown that group-based peer support programs for military families are generally safe and well-received. Studies have found that these programs can enhance participants' well-being without causing significant negative effects. For example, research on women veterans revealed that peer support programs helped reduce feelings of loneliness and improved their overall well-being.

The available evidence does not indicate any major safety concerns or harmful side effects from joining these group support sessions. Participants in similar programs have experienced positive results, such as improved mental health and increased social support, without notable problems. This suggests that peer support is safe for those who choose to join. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about group-based peer support for military family resilience because it emphasizes community and shared experiences, something traditional therapy might not always provide. Unlike standard individual counseling or therapy, peer support groups foster a sense of belonging and understanding by connecting participants with others who have faced similar challenges. This approach not only helps participants build resilience through shared stories and advice but also creates a supportive network that can extend beyond the sessions, potentially leading to more sustained mental health benefits.

What evidence suggests that group-based peer support is effective for improving military spouses' quality of life?

Research has shown that group-based peer support, which participants in this trial will receive, can benefit military families by enhancing mental health and quality of life. For example, the Families OverComing Under Stress program successfully improved the mental well-being of military families. Another study on the Military Spouse Resiliency Group found that peer support helped spouses feel better and cope with mental health issues. Sharing experiences in these groups builds trust and openness, making it easier to discuss and manage mental health challenges. Overall, these findings suggest that peer support can be a valuable resource for military spouses. ^{1 3 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Elisa Borah, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Texas at Austin

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

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 for a Trial Participant

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

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

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.

How Is the Trial Designed?

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+

Published Research Related to This Trial

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]

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]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3496435/

Evaluation of a Family-Centered Prevention Intervention for ... We evaluated the Families OverComing Under Stress program, which provides resiliency training designed to enhance family psychological health in US military ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11507616/

Military Family-Centred Resilience-Building Programming ... After Deployment, Adaptive Parenting Tools: 1-year outcomes of an evidence-based parenting program for military families following deployment.

3. apps.dtic.mil apps.dtic.mil/sti/trecms/pdf/AD1215040.pdf

The Military Spouse Resiliency Group (MSRG) Peer Support ... Data from the two groups will be compared to understand the program's effectiveness in improving spouses' quality of life, mental health, self- ...

4. scholarworks.waldenu.edu scholarworks.waldenu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=19241&context=dissertations

The Experiences of Veterans Seeking Peer-to-Peer Support ... The shared military background fosters a unique sense of trust and camaraderie, facilitating, open and honest discussions about mental health ...

5. journal-veterans-studies.org journal-veterans-studies.org/articles/10.21061/jvs.v10i1.533

Social and Psychological Support for Military Personnel ... After Deployment, Adaptive Parenting Tools: 1-year outcomes of an evidence-based parenting program for military families following deployment.

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11548822/

Evaluating the Impact of a Peer Support Program on ... This study sought to improve the well-being of a national sample of women veterans, a population at risk for poor well-being due to isolation and lack of ...

7. mhealth.jmir.org mhealth.jmir.org/2025/1/e64098

Digital Health Resilience and Well-Being Interventions for ... We aimed to identify, describe, and evaluate apps, resource banks (RBs), and web-based programs (WBPs), referred to as digital mental health interventions ( ...

8. schoolresources.militaryfamilies.psu.edu schoolresources.militaryfamilies.psu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/clearinghouse_supporting-military-families_20191029.pdf

An Overview of Military Family Outcomes and Evidence ... The review provides a preliminary examination of the research on brain development in military children, mobility and resiliency in military families, college- ...