Author(s)

Heng Jiang^1,2*, Rowan Dowling¹, Mohajer Hameed³, Felicity Painter³, An Vuong³, Anna Booth³, Jessica Opie³, Jessica Boh⁴, Natalie McLean⁴, Jennifer E. McIntosh³

¹Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, Department of Public Health, School of Psychology & Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia.
²Centre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Carlton, Australia.
³The Bouverie Centre, School of Psychology & Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia.
⁴Defence, Canberra, Australia.

Although many military families demonstrate resilience and strength, research highlights that military service may impact the health and wellbeing of families. In comparison with civilian families, military families are embedded within a broader military context and culture which may influence many aspects of family life, including socioeconomic status and social participation. This rapid review utilised a systematic methodology to synthesise the evidence of comparing possible differences of the socioeconomic and social participation of military families with civilian families. Relevant online databases such as Medline, PsycINFO, CINAHL and ProQuest Central were searched for articles published between January 2000 and February 2022. After screening 3057 articles, five studies were included for analysis. The results highlight considerable income, education and employment gaps between current serving military and civilian spouses. An association was found between social, economic status and increased risk of violence or assaults in military families. Specifically, younger age and decline in health status were key predictors of domestic violence assaults in military families. This review highlights emerging evidence and recommends further Australian-based research with military families. Policy, research, and practice implications are discussed with consideration to preventative interventions tailored towards strengthening health, wellbeing, and socio-economic status of military families.

Military, Family, Civilian, Social and Economic Outcomes, Rapid Review

Jiang, H. , Dowling, R. , Hameed, M. , Painter, F. , Vuong, A. , Booth, A. , Opie, J. , Boh, J. , McLean, N. and McIntosh, J. (2022) Comparison of Social and Economic Stress in Military and Civilian Families: A Rapid Review of the Evidence. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 10, 320-347. doi: 10.4236/jss.2022.1011022.