Family Program Needs Select results from the 2008 Active Duty Spouse Survey (ADSS2008) and Reserve Component Spouse Survey (RCSS2008) January 2011

Information and Technology for Better Decision Making MDDC 2 August 2010 ADSS Survey Results

Information and Technology for Better Decision Making MDDC 3 August 2010 ADSS Weighted Demographic Data 1 1 Spouses of Coast Guard members were excluded from the 2008 ADSS data before analyses were conducted for this briefing. 2 “Deployed multiple times” is a subset of “Deployed past 36 months” 3 “Deployed combat zone” is a subset of “Deployed past 12 months”

Information and Technology for Better Decision Making MDDC 4 August 2010 FINANCIAL WELL-BEING Summary of Findings 2008 ADSS  Average monthly gross household earnings reported were $8,400  No average differences over time for total or Service  Average differences over time for paygrade are:  Average monthly gross spouse earnings reported were $2,800  Average differences over time for total, Service, and paygrade are:

Information and Technology for Better Decision Making MDDC 5 August 2010 FINANCIAL WELL-BEING Summary of Findings 2008 ADSS  More than one-quarter (26%) of spouses indicated having at least one financial problem in the past 12 months (excluding paying overdraft fees)  Percentage point differences over time for total are:

Information and Technology for Better Decision Making MDDC 6 August 2010 FINANCIAL WELL-BEING Summary of Findings 2008 ADSS  Nearly two-thirds (62%) described their financial condition as comfortable; 12% described it as not comfortable  No percentage point differences over time for not comfortable for total, Service, or paygrade  Over two-thirds (69%) of spouses reported having $500 or more in emergency savings  About half (46%) reported their spouse contributes to the Thrift Savings Plan

Information and Technology for Better Decision Making MDDC 7 August 2010 HEALTH AND WELL-BEING Summary of Findings 2008 ADSS  The majority of spouses reported it was likely that a friend, neighbor, or relative (besides their husband/wife) would listen to them if they needed to talk (81%), lend them tools or equipment if they needed them (79%), give them a ride if needed (78%), or take care of their children in an emergency (77%).  Combining these items to form an overall Social Support measure, spouses indicated the level of social support they felt they had at their current location.  On a scale from 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest), spouses level of “Social Support” was rated at 3.8  No average differences over time for total, Service, or paygrade  About a half of spouses reported they often felt confident about their ability to handle their personal problems (63%) and things were going their way (45%); whereas less than one-quarter of spouses reported they often felt unable to control the important things in life (20%) and difficulties were piling up so high that they could not overcome them (13%)  Combining these items to form a global measure of Perceived Stress, spouses indicated how much stress they have felt in the past month.  On a scale from 1 (lowest) to 16 (highest), spouses level of “Perceived Stress” was rated at 5.7  No average differences over time for total, Service, or paygrade

Information and Technology for Better Decision Making MDDC 8 August 2010 HEALTH AND WELL-BEING Summary of Findings 2008 ADSS  About half (47%) reported more stress than usual in their personal life; about one-tenth (14%) reported less stress  Percentage point differences over time for more stress in personal life for total, Service, and paygrade are:

Information and Technology for Better Decision Making MDDC 9 August 2010 HEALTH AND WELL-BEING Summary of Findings 2008 ADSS  About one-quarter (21%) reported having more frequent problems in their personal relationship with their spouse; more than one-third (39%) reported less frequent problems  Percentage point differences over time for more frequent problems in personal relationships for total, Service, and paygrade are:

Information and Technology for Better Decision Making MDDC 10 August 2010 Employment Services That Would Have Helped After Most Recent Permanent Change of Station (PCS) Percent of Active Duty Spouses Who Have Experienced at Least One PCS Move ADSS 2008 Q12Margins of error range from ±2% to ±12%

Information and Technology for Better Decision Making MDDC 11 August 2010 Importance of Factors in Coping With Deployments Percent of Active Duty Spouses Whose Spouse Had Been Deployed in the Past Three Years ADSS 2008 Q22Margins of error range from ±1% to ±3%

Information and Technology for Better Decision Making MDDC 12 August 2010 Importance of Factors in Coping With Deployments Percent of Active Duty Spouses Whose Spouse Had Been Deployed in the Past Three Years ADSS 2008 Q22Margins of error range from ±1% to ±3%

Information and Technology for Better Decision Making MDDC 13 August 2010 What Would Be Helpful During Deployment Percent of Active Duty Spouses Whose Spouse Had Been Deployed in the Past Three Years ADSS 2008 Q23, Q24Margins of error range from ±1% to ±2%

Information and Technology for Better Decision Making MDDC 14 August 2010 Helpfulness of Reunion and Reintegration Support Percent of Active Duty Spouses Whose Spouse Had Been Deployed in the Past Three Years, Returned in the Past 12 Months, and Obtained Support From Specified Source ADSS 2008 Q29Margins of error range from ±3% to ±13%

Information and Technology for Better Decision Making MDDC 15 August 2010 Helpfulness of Reunion and Reintegration Support Percent of Active Duty Spouses Whose Spouse Had Been Deployed in the Past Three Years, Returned in the Past 12 Months, and Obtained Support From Specified Source ADSS 2008 Q29Margins of error range from ±3% to ±13%

Information and Technology for Better Decision Making MDDC 16 August 2010 RCSS Survey Results

Information and Technology for Better Decision Making MDDC 17 August 2010 RCSS Weighted Demographic Data 1 1 USCGR spouses were excluded from the 2008 RCSS data before analyses were conducted for this briefing. 2 “Activated but not deployed” is a subset of “Activated past 24 months” 3 “Deployed Iraq/Afghanistan” is a subset of “Deployed past 24 months”

Information and Technology for Better Decision Making MDDC 18 August 2010 Summary of Findings 2008 RCSS HEALTH AND WELL-BEING  About one-tenth (11%) of spouses reported less stress than usual in their personal life; nearly half (42%) reported more than usual  Percentage point differences over time for total, Component, and paygrade are:

Information and Technology for Better Decision Making MDDC 19 August 2010 Use of Unit-Sponsored Communication Methods Percent of Reserve Spouses Whose Spouse Had Been Deployed in Past 24 Months RCSS 2008 Q31Margins of error do not exceed ±2%

Information and Technology for Better Decision Making MDDC 20 August 2010 Use of Unit-Sponsored Support Activities Percent of Reserve Spouses Whose Spouse Had Been Deployed in Past 24 Months RCSS 2008 Q32Margins of error range from ±2% to ±3%

Information and Technology for Better Decision Making MDDC 21 August 2010 Use of Military-Provided Programs/Services Percent of Reserve Spouses Whose Spouse Had Been Deployed in Past 24 Months RCSS 2008 Q22Margins of error range from ±1% to ±3%

Information and Technology for Better Decision Making MDDC 22 August 2010 Importance of Factors in Coping With Deployments Percent of Reserve Spouses Whose Spouse Had Been Deployed in Past 24 Months RCSS 2008 Q30Margins of error range from ±1% to ±2%

Information and Technology for Better Decision Making MDDC 23 August 2010 Importance of Factors in Coping With Deployments Percent of Reserve Spouses Whose Spouse Had Been Deployed in Past 24 Months RCSS 2008 Q30Margins of error range from ±1% to ±2%

Information and Technology for Better Decision Making MDDC 24 August 2010 Need for Interaction With Military Point of Contact (POC) Percent of Reserve Spouses Whose Spouse Had Been Deployed in Past 24 Months and Who Had a Military POC, By Component RCSS 2008 Q35Margins of error range from ±3% to ±14%

Information and Technology for Better Decision Making MDDC 25 August 2010 Support Services Spouse Received After Member Returned Home Percent of Reserve Spouses Whose Spouse Had Returned Home From a Deployment in the Past 24 Months RCSS 2008 Q45Margins of error range from ±1% to ±3%

Information and Technology for Better Decision Making MDDC 26 August 2010 Usefulness of Deployment Information Spouse Received Percent of Reserve Spouses Whose Spouse Had Returned Home From a Deployment in the Past 24 Months RCSS 2008 Q47Margins of error range from ±3% to ±4%

Information and Technology for Better Decision Making MDDC 27 August 2010 Usefulness of Deployment Information Spouse Received Percent of Reserve Spouses Whose Spouse Had Returned Home From a Deployment in the Past 24 Months RCSS 2008 Q47Margins of error range from ±3% to ±4%