Occupational Balance & Well-Being of Military Members: A Survey Study

Operational stressors can lead to suicide and attempted suicide, which is particularly relevant in at-risk populations, such as active-duty military personnel and Veteran communities. Military members are exposed to operational stress throughout their career which results in their decreased mental health, decreased participation in meaningful occupations, routines, and roles. The purpose of this survey study is to assess the occupational stress and balance of military members. The ‘Military Occupational Balance Survey’ was administered with 100 active duty personnel. Research questions explored included: 1) Is there a relationship between years of military member experience and frequency of participation in varied areas of occupation? 2) Is there a relationship between the type of duty section and frequency in participation in varied areas of occupation? 3) Is there a relationship between years of military member experience and changes in occupational participation due to work stressors? Following the survey, a workshop was created to address occupational stress and imbalance of military members. The Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance (PEOP) model was used as the system model for the workshop. Snowball sampling was used to obtain participants. The workshop was open to military members at a US military base located in one of the Southern states. The educational seminar identified and addressed occupational stress and disruptions to occupational balance. Post-participation data was collected using a survey and descriptive and summary analysis. The results of this study showed that, through a comprehensive approach, occupational therapist can deliver holistic education to active duty personnel who may be dealing with occupational stress, imbalance, and mental health issues, thereby promoting and maintaining their participation in meaningful activities, life roles, and occupational routines.

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