An official website of the United States Government 
Here's how you know

Official websites use .gov

.gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock ( lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

You have accessed part of a historical collection on defense.gov. Some of the information contained within may be outdated and links may not function. Please contact the DOD Webmaster with any questions.
Immediate Release

Survey Provides Insights Into Spouse Satisfaction With Military Life

Many key indicators of well-being among active-duty military spouses have improved or held steady since 2017, according to the newly released Survey of Active Duty Spouses. The survey measured spouse satisfaction from 2017-2019.

The 2019 survey looked at spouse attitudes and experiences in the areas of military support and benefits, deployment and reintegration, education and employment, and spouse and child well-being.

Areas that improved or held steady from the 2017 survey include general health and well-being, financial stability, marital satisfaction, and positive child behaviors.

The survey also identified key opportunities for the Department of Defense to improve spouse satisfaction in the areas of personal stress support, as well as support for employment and deployment-related challenges.

“Our program and policy teams rely on insights from this important, recurring research study, which uses stratified sampling and weighting to produce results that create a reliable depiction of the experience faced by military spouses,” said Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Matthew P. Donovan. “This supports our ability to adjust, improve, and initiate policies and programs that meet the needs of our military spouses.”

The Department of Defense survey, conducted every two years, is the leading source of information about military spouses based on feedback from a representative cross-section of spouses. The data is used to analyze issues, programs, and services, and identify key opportunities to better support military spouses.

“The participation of military spouses is critical in providing the DOD with the insights needed to deliver on its priority to help military families thrive,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy Kim Joiner. “It is with their feedback that we can make adjustments and introduce new programs to enhance support for military families.”

For important information about the military community, including survey results, infographics, research reports, and demographic profiles, visit Military OneSource.

About Military Community and Family Policy 

Military Community and Family Policy is directly responsible for establishing and overseeing quality-of-life policies and programs that help our guardians of country, their families, and survivors be well and mission-ready. Military OneSource is the gateway to programs and services that support the everyday needs of the 5.2 million service members and immediate family members of the military community. These Department of Defense services can be accessed 24/7/365 around the world.