State of Military Families: Blue Star Families’ Bilingual Survey Finds Top Concerns are Spouse Unemployment, Family Separation, Military Pay, Housing, and Relocation

WASHINGTON, DC – Blue Star Families, a national nonprofit dedicated to building strong communities of support and belonging for military families, today released the findings of its 2022 Military Family Lifestyle Survey. This is the most comprehensive bilingual survey (conducted in English and Spanish) analyzing top issues that impact military and Veteran families. Fifty percent of active-duty families stated that spouse unemployment was a top issue, along with 45% citing time away from family, and 40% are equally concerned about military pay, housing and relocation/permanent change of station (PCS).

When asked if they were likely to recommend military service to other families, 37% of active-duty families stated they would recommend service, citing good benefits and economic stability, 35% were neutral, and 28% were unlikely to recommend service due to poor leadership and challenges for families.

“At Blue Star Families, we believe it’s critical that we shed light on the most challenging issues our service members, Veterans, and their families are experiencing,” said Kathy Roth-Douquet, CEO of Blue Star Families. “This year’s survey underscores that, as a nation, we must do better to support our military families because healthier and stable military families result in a stronger and more united America. It’s time for policy makers, national leaders, and the philanthropic community to work together to support the best interests of those who sacrifice so much for our country.”

“The annual Military Family Lifestyle Survey is the premier tool to understand the current state of the nation’s active-duty service members, Veterans, and their families. As a leader in research and policy work that supports and informs our national training programs and the military-connected community at large, Syracuse University’s D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) is proud to be a part of the survey and excited to help inform its future,” said Dr. Mike Haynie, Vice Chancellor and Founder/Executive Director of the IVMF. “Our strong partnership with Blue Star Families has resulted in actionable data and insights for leaders in every sector to help address the toughest challenges facing the Veteran and military community.”

Top Concerns from the 2022 Military Family Lifestyle Survey

Active-Duty Spouses (n=3,173) Active-Duty Service Members (n=466)
Spouse employment 50% 33%
Time away from family 45% 42%
BAH/Off-base housing concerns 40% 38%
Military pay 40% 44%
Relocation/PCS issues 37% 34%

The survey demonstrates the complex challenges that come with a military lifestyle, including:

Continued Spouse Unemployment Trends

  • Compared to civilians, military spouse respondents report lower rates in the labor force, 65% versus 72%, and experience unemployment levels up to four times greater 21% versus 6%.
  • The unemployment rate disparity is even greater for active-duty spouse respondents of color at 27%.

Child Care Barriers 

  • Only 50% of active-duty spouses were able to find daily child care that works for their current situation.
  • “Child care is too expensive” is the top reason given by spouse respondents who are not currently employed but want or need to work.

Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH)/Off-Base Housing Dissatisfaction

  • “BAH/Off-base housing” is a new leading concern on this year’s survey.
  • 81% of active-duty family respondents who reported monthly housing expenses not covered by their BAH reported paying in excess of $200 out of pocket a month.
  • 1 in 5, or 22%, of active-duty family respondents have been exposed to environmental toxins in military housing.

Financial and Food Insecurity

  • 26% of enlisted active-duty family respondents reported they experienced some level of food insecurity.
  • Active-duty family respondents of color reported higher levels of food insecurity than their white, non-Hispanic counterparts, 22% versus 14%.

Health Care and Disordered Eating

  • Less than one-half, 44%, of military-connected respondents with eligible adult children have a child enrolled in TRICARE Young Adult; the most common reason respondents with eligible adult children did not enroll was because costs were “too expensive.”
  • 30% of active-duty service members and 38% of spouses screened positive for disordered eating, which, unless treated early, can develop into diagnosable eating disorders.

Discrimination and Mental Health Concerns in Children and Adults

  • 24% of active-duty family respondents had at least one child who experienced racially/ethnically motivated bullying in their civilian community, while 14% reported that they had a child who experienced racially/ethnically motivated bullying in their military community.
  • 23% of active-duty family respondents with at least one child enrolled in grades K-12 had a child receiving mental health care, and an additional 16%  reported that their child(ren) did not currently receive, but they would like them to receive mental health care.
  • 7% percent of respondents with at least one child reported they had a child or children express thoughts of suicide.

Greater Need for Mental Health Care Providers

  • Among those active-duty family respondents who reported they would like their child to receive mental health care, but they currently did not, the most common reason they were not receiving care was because they were unable to find a provider to treat their child (44%). 41% of working-age Veteran respondents (ages 21-64) reported a current diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder and 33% reported major depressive disorder, compared with 14% and 11% of aging Veteran respondents (65 or older).
  • 81% of active-duty family respondents reported they had a close friend or loved one experience one or more stressful situations including the loss of a loved one or a mental health crisis such as suicidal thoughts.

Spanish-Language Respondents

Spanish-language active-duty family respondents reported similar challenges as their English-language counterparts, including spouse employment, time away from family, and military pay. This group also reported concerns about the transition from military to civilian life and access to health care systems, as well as concerns about the impact of deployment on the family and children’s education.

The survey was conducted from May 23rd to July 10th, 2022 in partnership with the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University (IVMF), as well as presenting sponsor, The USAA Foundation, Inc.

View a full copy of the survey results here.

 

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About Blue Star Families

​​Blue Star Families (BSF) is the nation’s largest chapter-based military family support organization. Its research-driven approach fosters strong communities of belonging by listening, sharing, partnering, and acting to improve the lives of military families around the world. Since 2009, BSF has delivered more than $109 million in benefits to military families and now impacts more than 1.5 million members per year. For more information, click here.