Report: Military spouses feel stressed, are slow to find jobs

Whether a loved one serves in a combat zone or in the reserves, marriage can come with challenges. Military spouses experience high stress and unemployment, according to a survey sponsored by the Department of Defense.

The nearly 1 million spouses to reserve and active duty service members often faced anxiety during their partners’ deployments and could struggle to find a job after moving for their partner’s next assignment, according to the 2017 survey, released Thursday.

During their reserve members’ deployment, 92 percent of 368,000 spouses experienced an increase in stress levels. For 88 percent, deployment also brought feelings of loneliness. Depression and anxiety was an issue for 85 percent, too.

Civilian reserve spouses were twice as likely to be unemployed than the general public, with 8 percent seeking jobs.

But nearly a quarter of about 612,000 people married to active-duty spouses couldn’t find a job despite wanting and looking for one. In 2017, the national unemployment rate was about 4 percent.

An additional 40 percent of spouses said it took seven months or more to find a job after a spouse received permanent change of station orders. Over onethird had to move in the last year because of a spouse’s reassignment.

Half of active-duty spouses said their personal life stress level was higher than usual, although 61 percent said they preferred their partner stay in the military. For reserve spouses, 83 percent said they felt satisfied with their marriage.

Female military members were less likely than males to be married and more likely to get divorced, the survey said.

JACQUELYN MARTIN/AP During their reserve members’ deployment, 92 percent of 368,000 spouses said they experienced an increase in stress levels, a survey found.