“Everything else comes first”: A mixed-methods analysis of barriers to health behaviors among military spouses
In this 2018 study, military spouses were evaluated on their barriers to health behaviors using surveys and focus group sessions. Participating in health behaviors such as physical activity and healthy eating may have a positive impact on spouses’ physical and mental health, but research into spouses’ behaviors was limited. Subjects taking part in the surveys (n=230) indicated up to 3 of their most frequent barriers to physical activity, diet, social connection, and stress management, while the 22 people who participated in the focus groups allowed the researchers to gain a greater understanding of the challenges military spouses face when trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The surveys revealed lack of time was the most prevalent barrier for physical activity, social connection, and stress management, and the second most prevalent barrier for diet. Financial concern was voted most often as a barrier to maintaining a healthy diet, while obstacles related to parent/family responsibilities were also commonly reported across all health behaviors. During the focus group sessions, the transient military lifestyle was found to have a significant impact on all of the health behaviors, while deployments and the necessity to “do it all” alone were also discussed by the spouses and could be a contributor. Interestingly, many of the subjects had rigid definitions of what “counts” as exercise and healthy eating. Generally, the sample population sacrificed participating in health habits to attend other priorities. Although some of the barriers reported here were similar to barriers reported by civilians, this study uncovered unique stressors associated with military life that further impeded participation in health behaviors. [NPID: military, military spouses, social connection, stress management]
Year: 2018
