D2- Responses

RespondtoAndi.docx

Home >Psychology homework help >D2- Responses

Research Plan Overview: Military Life and Maternal Mental Health: Exploring Postpartum Anxiety Among Military Spouses

Name: Andi A. Slusser

Stage of Completion: Stage 1

I. Introduction

1. Problem Statement

A. Military spouses experience stressors that are unique to the military life, including frequent relocations, limited social support networks, and disruptions in family stability. During postpartum, these stressors can increase the vulnerability for military spouses to experience postpartum anxiety and other mental health concerns. Although current literature has explored postpartum mental health and military stress, the literature is independent. There is limited research that has examined how relocation stress and perceived social support is connected to postpartum anxiety among military spouses.

· Gleason, J. L., & Beck, K. H. (2017). Examining associations between relocation, continuity of care, and patient satisfaction in military spouses. Military Medicine, 182(5), e1657-e1664. https://doi.org/10.7205/MILMED-D-16-00191Links to an external site.

· Corry, N. H., Williams, C. S., Radakrishnan, S., McMaster, H. S., Sparks, A. C., Briggs-King, E., Karon, S. S., & Stander, V. A. (2021). Demographic variation in military life stress and perceived support among military spouses. Military Medicine, 186(1), 214-221. https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usaa386Links to an external site.

· Pretorius, K., Sposato, M. F., & Trueblood-Miller, W. (2024). Perinatal mental health and active-duty military spouses: A scoping review. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 24(1), 557-12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-024-06727-1Links to an external site.

· Ross, A. M., Steketee, G., Emmert-Aronson, B. O., Brown, T. A., Muroff, J., & DeVoe, E. R. (2020). Stress-buffering versus support erosion: Comparison of causal models of the relationship between social support and psychological distress in military spouses. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 90(3), 361-373. https://doi.org/10.1037/ort0000438Links to an external site.

· Spencer, L. M. H., Barley, E. A., Robinson, A., & Davies-Kershaw, H. (2025). What does existing research tell us about the factors impacting non-serving military spouse mothers’ perinatal mental health experiences? A systematic review with textual narrative synthesis. Midwifery, 148, 104468. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2025.104468Links to an external site.

B. This matters because without a better understanding of the above relationships, counselors can be limited with their ability to identify risk factors and provide effective interventions for postpartum military spouses.

· Nguyen, M. H., Semino-Asaro, S., Reminick, A. M., Rukaj, A. T., & Connelly, C. D. (2023). Barriers to and facilitators of military spouses’ recovery from perinatal mental health disorders: A qualitative study. Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health, 9(4), 77-87. https://doi.org/10.3138/jmvfh-2022-0067Links to an external site.

C. The problem is that military spouses experience a unique set of stressors associated with the military lifestyle during postpartum, yet limited research has explored how relocation stress and perceived social support are connected to postpartum anxiety among military spouses.

2. Purpose

A. The purpose of this study is to examine how stressors from military life influence the experiences of postpartum anxiety among military spouses during the postpartum period.

3. General research questions

A. How do military spouses describe the impact of relocation stress during the postpartum period?

B. How do military spouses perceive the effectiveness of social support during postpartum?

C. How do military spouses describe the relationship between specific military life stressors and experiences of postpartum anxiety?

4. Research Plan

A. This study will be conducted using a qualitative research design.

B. A phenomenological approach may be appropriate because the study seeks to understand the lived experience of postpartum military spouses. A qualitative design allows for the flexibility needed to gather detailed personal narratives and experiences.

II. Review of Related Literature

1. Theoretical Framework

A. The ontological assumption guiding this study is that reality is subjective and socially constructed. This study assumes that the reality is subjective and socially constructed, this means that each military spouse can experience postpartum anxiety, relocation stress, and social support differently based on their personal experiences (Creswell & Poth, 2025).

B. The worldview and theory that helps shape this study are social constructivist worldview and Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory (Creswell & Poth, 2025; Guy-Evans, 2024). Bronfenbrenner’s theory supports the understanding that experiences are influenced by multiple environmental systems, including family relationships, community support, and a broader social structure (Guy-Evans, 2024). Social constructivism emphasizes that individuals develop an understanding through social interactions and lived experiences (Creswell & Poth, 2025). These frameworks are appropriate for this study because military spouses can interpret postpartum anxiety based on their personal experiences and their social structure (Creswell & Poth, 2025; Guy-Evans, 2024).

2. Important Thinkers/experts/theorists in this field of study

A. Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The ecology of human development: Experiments by nature and design. Harvard University Press.

· Developed Ecological Systems Theory, this explains how environmental systems influence individual development and mental health.

B. Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2025). Qualitative inquiry & research design: Choosing among five approaches (5th). Sage Publications.

· Largely contributes to qualitative research and social constructivist methodology.

C. Beck, C.T. (2006). Postpartum depression. The American Journal of Nursing, 106(5), 40-51. https://doi.org/10.1097/00000446-200605000-00020Links to an external site.

· Recognized for extensive research on postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety.

D. Walsh, F. (2016). Strengthening family resilience (3rd). The Guilford Press.

· Known for research on family resilience and adapting to stress during life transitions.

3. Related Research

A. Gleason, J. L., & Beck, K. H. (2017). Examining associations between relocation, continuity of care, and patient satisfaction in military spouses. Military Medicine, 182(5), e1657-e1664. https://doi.org/10.7205/MILMED-D-16-00191Links to an external site.

· This study is about how military relocation impacts continuity of healthcare and patient satisfaction among military spouses.

· This research is important to this study because relocation stress can disrupt healthcare access and increase stress during the postpartum period.

· Key descriptors: relocation stress, continuity of care, healthcare access, military spouse stressors.

A. Pretorius, K., Sposato, M. F., & Trueblood-Miller, W. (2024). Perinatal mental health and active-duty military spouses: A scoping review. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 24(1), 557-12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-024-06727-1Links to an external site.

· This research is about perinatal mental health among military spouses.

· This research is important to this study because it identifies gaps in current literature regarding postpartum anxiety and military-related stressors.

· Key descriptors: postpartum anxiety, perinatal mental health, military spouses, literature gaps.

References

Beck, C.T. (2006). Postpartum depression. The American Journal of Nursing, 106(5), 40-51. https://doi.org/10.1097/00000446-200605000-00020Links to an external site.

Corry, N. H., Williams, C. S., Radakrishnan, S., McMaster, H. S., Sparks, A. C., Briggs-King, E., Karon, S. S., & Stander, V. A. (2021). Demographic variation in military life stress and perceived support among military spouses. Military Medicine, 186(1), 214-221. https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usaa386Links to an external site.

Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2025). Qualitative inquiry & research design: Choosing among five approaches (5thed.). Sage Publications.

Gleason, J. L., & Beck, K. H. (2017). Examining associations between relocation, continuity of care, and patient satisfaction in military spouses. Military Medicine, 182(5), e1657-e1664. https://doi.org/10.7205/MILMED-D-16-00191Links to an external site.

Guy-Evans, O. (2024). Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/bronfenbrenner.htmlLinks to an external site.

Nguyen, M. H., Semino-Asaro, S., Reminick, A. M., Rukaj, A. T., & Connelly, C. D. (2023). Barriers to and facilitators of military spouses’ recovery from perinatal mental health disorders: A qualitative study. Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health, 9(4), 77-87. https://doi.org/10.3138/jmvfh-2022-0067Links to an external site.

Pretorius, K., Sposato, M. F., & Trueblood-Miller, W. (2024). Perinatal mental health and active-duty military spouses: A scoping review. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 24(1), 557-12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-024-06727-1Links to an external site.

Ross, A. M., Steketee, G., Emmert-Aronson, B. O., Brown, T. A., Muroff, J., & DeVoe, E. R. (2020). Stress-buffering versus support erosion: Comparison of causal models of the relationship between social support and psychological distress in military spouses. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 90(3), 361-373. https://doi.org/10.1037/ort0000438Links to an external site.

Spencer, L. M. H., Barley, E. A., Robinson, A., & Davies-Kershaw, H. (2025). What does existing research tell us about the factors impacting non-serving military spouse mothers’ perinatal mental health experiences? A systematic review with textual narrative synthesis. Midwifery, 148, 104468. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2025.104468Links to an external site.

Walsh, F. (2016). Strengthening family resilience (Third ed.). The Guilford Press.