Constructing, Deconstructing, Reconstructing: Exploring the impact of connection and the Armed Forces lifestyle on identity formation and well-being in military partners

A consistent message from the MOD Armed Forces Families Strategy (2022) is one of improved well-being. A number of factors can impact on the well-being of military partners. Firstly, the transitions that serving personnel and their families will encounter throughout their service, one such demand being that of operational deployment with higher reported martial unrest in the Forces following lengthy deployment. Moreover, a sense of belonging and community has long since been associated with the Armed Forces, not just in the UK but across all defence structures. So, it is unsurprising that a perceived familial and social support is associated with an improvement in well-being. Noticeably military partners are often situated within the caregiver role both during service and following transition to civilian life. Often they are recognised through the Serving person’s identity, rather than as their own person. Typically having to seek support through their partners. 

There are key links between organisational and social expectations, perceived roles and related behaviours; the current research aims to understand the impact of these interrelated factors on how military partners construct and maintain their identity. 

This qualitative research will utilise semi-structured interviews and an Interperative Phenomenological Approach to analysis will be taken to explore how these individuals make sense of their experiences and the world around them.