Characteristics and health conditions of civilian spouses of veterans

This section presents a focused analysis of mental health conditions among civilian spouses of veterans. As the first analysis of this type, it is important to note that the intention is to describe the civilian spouse population with reference to the non-veteran spouse population for context only. It is not intended, and nor is it sufficient, to establish causal relationships related to the ADF experience. Observed differences in the prevalence of mental health conditions between groups of spouses may be influenced by several factors, such as access to healthcare (including DVA funded services) and health-seeking behaviours as well as socio-demographic factors that are not captured by the available data. 

The approach presented here is limited to two-way comparisons, which means it examines relationships between mental health condition prevalence (with age and sex), together with individual factors such as child-status, employment status, income level, education level, and unpaid domestic work. These variables are likely interrelated – particularly age with child status, labour force participation and income – and may collectively influence mental health outcomes. While these limited two-way associations are informative, a more robust multi-variable modelling approach would be required to fully understand the complex interactions between these factors. Such analysis is beyond the scope of this report but represents a valuable direction for future research.

Female civilian spouses had a higher prevalence of mental health conditions than male civilian spouses

Overall civilian female spouses of veterans had an 11% prevalence (32,200 spouses) of a mental health condition. For female spouses in non-veteran relationships, this was 9.7%.

Prevalence of mental health conditions varied by age group, with younger female spouses having higher prevalence than older female spouses (Figure 9). 

Female spouses of current serving reserves members generally had a lower prevalence of mental health conditions compared with those of permanent and ex-serving members. Female spouses of permanent members demonstrated a similar pattern of mental health condition to those of ex-serving members. 

Across most age groups, female spouses of veterans, regardless of their partner’s service status, had a similar or higher prevalence of mental health conditions compared with non-veteran spouses.

Recognising that mental health outcomes may  differ between those with and without children, the data was further disaggregated by whether children were present in the household. Among female spouses of current-serving, permanent members aged 17–24, 25–34, and 35–44 – who are typically the primary carers of dependent children – the prevalence of mental health conditions was higher among veterans’ spouses than non-veterans’ spouses (25% and 18%; 18% and 11%; 15% and 10%, respectively). While these differences show an association between veteran status, caregiving roles, and reported mental health conditions, it is important to note that the data do not establish a causal relationship. Other unmeasured factors may contribute to these differences.  

Overall civilian male spouses of veterans had a 7.9% prevalence (1,500 spouses) of a mental health condition. For male spouses in non-veteran relationships, this was 6.2%. This prevalence level was broadly consistent by age group (Figure 9). Due to small numbers, mental health prevalence data was not available for male spouses in the oldest and youngest age groups.

Male spouses of current-serving permanent and reserve members had a generally similar prevalence of mental health conditions to non-veteran spouses. In contrast, male spouses of ex-serving members exhibited a slightly higher prevalence of mental health conditions compared with non-veteran spouses.

Female civilian spouses who are not working have higher prevalence of mental health conditions

Female civilian spouses of veterans who were not working consistently exhibited a higher prevalence of mental health conditions across all age groups. This was especially pronounced among younger spouses aged 17–24 and 25–34 without children, who reported prevalences of 31% and 27% respectively, compared with 23% and 15% among spouses of non-veterans.

Among female civilian spouses who were not working, partners of permanent members showed the highest overall prevalence of mental health conditions (20%) compared with 15% for partners of reserve members and 10% for partners of ex-serving members. 

Female spouses of permanent members, aged 17-24 without children, who were Not in the labour force¹ and those aged 35-44 without children who were Employed but away from work, had the highest prevalence of mental health conditions (38% for both groups). Female spouses of ex-serving members, aged 17-24 without children, who were Unemployed, also had a prevalence of 38%.

Female civilian spouses with higher incomes had lower prevalence of mental health conditions

Consistent with patterns observed by labour force status, prevalence of mental health conditions was most pronounced at lower income levels (nil income to $649 per week) for both veteran and non-veteran female spouses. Again, the spouses aged 17–34 without children were most impacted, particularly veterans’ spouses. In the 35 and over broad age group, spouses with nil income to $649 per week with children displayed higher prevalence than those without children, irrespective of their partner’s veteran status. 

While disparities decreased with increasing income, mental health condition prevalence among female veteran spouses remained higher than that of the non-veteran population across most income brackets. Among female civilian spouses aged 25–34 without children, those in the lowest three income brackets (nil income, $1–$299, and $300–$399) reported mental health condition prevalences of 19%, 36% and 37% respectively compared with 11%, 23% and 22% among their non-veteran counterparts.

Female civilian spouses aged 17-34 with Year 11 or below education levels had higher prevalence of mental health conditions

Prevalence of mental health conditions were most pronounced among younger female spouses aged 17-34 with lower education levels and vocational qualifications (Certificate IV and below) irrespective of their spouse’s veteran status. Veterans’ spouses showed higher prevalence than non-veteran spouses.

While spouses without children showed slightly higher prevalence, the association between having children in the home and mental health condition prevalence appeared less consistent than the association with education level. The highest prevalence was seen in female civilian spouses of veterans aged 17–24 and 25–34 who had completed Year 11 or lower, regardless of whether they lived with children, (27% and 23% respectively compared with 25% and 16% for non-veteran’s spouses).

Female civilian spouses aged 17-34 who provided unpaid domestic work had higher prevalence of mental health conditions

Younger female civilian spouses aged 17-34 of veterans who provided unpaid domestic work reported a higher prevalence of mental health conditions compared to those who did not.

Among these, younger female civilian spouses aged 17-24 and 25-34 of permanent members who provided 15 hours or more of unpaid domestic work, regardless of whether they had children living in the home, were particularly vulnerable. Notably, those who provided 30 hours or more reported the highest prevalence of mental health conditions, with 32% among those aged 17-24 and 20% among those aged 25-34, compared with 24% and 13% respectively among non-veteran spouses. While there was no consistent pattern in mental health prevalence between spouses with and without children as mental health prevalence varied by age and by the service status of the veteran partner, spouses aged 17–24 and 25–34 without children of permanent members who provided 15 hours or more of unpaid domestic work reported a higher prevalence compared to those with children. Further research is recommended to better understand life circumstances and employment status of this group in order to inform more targeted and effective support strategies.

Additional demographic and mental health analyses by whether civilian spouses of veterans have provided unpaid voluntary work for an organisation or group in the 12 months prior to Census night are available in Data (supplementary tables SD7.3, SD7.4, SH8.3, and SH8.4). 

Additionally, analysis of mental conditions among civilian spouses of veterans by housing type occupied on Census night is available in Data (supplementary tables SH7.1 and SH7.2).

What are the ADF service characteristics associated with mental health conditions of the veteran’s civilian spouse

Understanding the ADF service-related characteristics of the veteran partner provides context for the mental health conditions reported in their spouses. Examining patterns of prevalence by the characteristics of the veteran partner’s ADF career-experience (including service length, rank, operational experience, and reason for separation from ADF) will inform future research and potential Defence and DVA programs to support the unique needs of ADF veteran spouses and families. 

Of all civilian spouses with mental health conditions and have veteran partners who served since 1985 (20,500 spouses) who have served since 1985 (20,500 spouses), 14% (2,910) were spouses of permanent members, 10% (2,120) were spouses of reserve members, and 75% (15,400) were spouses of ex-serving members. 

The following findings by service-related characteristics of the veteran focuses on the civilian spouses of ex-serving members as the largest group. The prevalence of mental health conditions for civilian spouses of permanent and reserve members is available in Data tables SH9.3 and SH9.4.

Findings for civilian spouses of ex-serving members are presented by the age groups 17–34, and 35 and over, to better account for the overall differences in the prevalence of mental health conditions by age. 

For female civilian spouses of ex-serving members:

• The prevalence of a spouse having a mental health condition was approximately the same irrespective of whether the ex-serving partner was in Army, Navy, or Air force (for example, 18% of civilian spouses aged 17–34 for each Service)
• Spouses aged 35 and over of a non-officer (other) ranked ex-serving partner had a higher prevalence of mental health conditions compared with spouses of officer ranked ex-serving partners (13% and 8.8% respectively)
• Spouses aged 35 and over with an ex-serving partner who has served for less than one year had a higher prevalence of mental health conditions compared with spouses of those who had served for 10 or more years (15% and 12% respectively)
• The highest prevalence of mental health conditions was seen for spouses of ex-serving members who had separated from the ADF for involuntary medical reasons (21% for spouses aged 17-34, and 19% for spouses aged 35 and over). Although the overall prevalence was lower among spouses aged 35 and over, the difference was larger between spouses of ex-serving members who had separated for voluntary reasons and involuntarily for medical reasons (12% and 19% respectively compared with 16% and 21% respectively for spouses aged 17-34)
• The prevalence of mental health conditions was approximately the same for spouses of ex-serving members with and without operational experience (for example, for civilian spouses aged 35 and over it was 15% and 14% respectively).

Compared with female civilian spouses of ex-serving members, the prevalence of mental health conditions in male civilian spouses was generally lower across all categories of service-related characteristics for the ex-serving partner. One difference was the higher prevalence for spouses aged 17–34 of ex-serving members who had Warlike operational experience (18% for yes and 7% for no) compared with female spouses (17% for yes and 18% for no). This is presented in Figure 11.