A systematic review of the effectiveness of well-being interventions for military personnel adjusting to civilian life

Exposure to stressful and potentially traumatic experiences is a risk for military personnel
and for some this may increase susceptibility to reduced well-being. The aim of this systematic review was to examine the effectiveness of interventions to promote the well-being of
military personnel adjusting to civilian life. Electronic databases were searched including
MEDLINE, Embase, HMIC, PsycINFO, Pilots and CINAHL. Twelve articles, all conducted in
the USA, were included in the review. Articles were synthesised narratively and assessed
for bias against established criteria. The studies evaluated the effectiveness of interventions
for current and former military personnel. The interventions included expressive writing,
anger management, cognitive training, psycho-education, and techniques to promote relaxation, connection in relationships and resilience. Interventions had some significant positive
effects mostly for veterans adjusting to civilian life and other family members. There was
much heterogeneity in the design and the outcome measures used in the studies reviewed.
The review highlights the need for future robust trials examining the effectiveness of wellbeing interventions in military groups with diverse characteristics; in addition qualitative
research to explore a conceptualisation of well-being for this group and the acceptability of
interventions which may be perceived as treatment. The results of the review will be of interest to a number of stakeholders in military, public health and mental health settings.