Thomas E. Trail

@TomETrail on Twitter

Senior Behavioral Scientist

Washington Office

Education

Ph.D. in social psychology, Princeton University; B.S. in psychology, Virginia Tech

Overview

Thomas E. Trail is a senior behavioral scientist at the RAND Corporation. Trail's research focuses on how stress affects relationship processes and health outcomes among military and civilian couples and the effectiveness of programs in mitigating family stress. Current research projects he is leading include the Today's Army Spouse Panel, a survey panel assessing the needs of Army spouses and their families and whether those needs are being met by Army and civilian services; an assessment of the needs of military-affiliated children and the role of Department of Defense counseling services in meeting those needs; and an evaluation of the long-term outcomes of the MyCAA spouse employment program. Other recent research includes an evaluation of the effectiveness of online peer support communities for decreasing social isolation and loneliness among caregivers for ill or wounded veterans, and designing and evaluating a web-based intervention to help spouses concerned about their service member's alcohol use. Prior to joining RAND, Trail was a postdoctoral scholar at UCLA. He received his Ph.D. in social psychology from Princeton University and his M.S. in applied/experimental psychology from Virginia Tech.

Research Focus

Recent Projects

Evaluation of the TAPS Military and Veteran Caregiver Online Peer Support Community Program
Evaluating Non-Medical Counseling Programs
Assessing the Needs of Army Families – Spouse Perspectives

Selected Publications

Trail, T. E., Friedman, E., Rutter, C. M., & Tanielian, T., "The relationship between engagement in online support groups and social isolation among military caregivers: Longitudinal questionnaire study," Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22(4), 2020

Trail, T. E., Osilla, K. C., Rodriguez, L. M., Pedersen, E. R., & Gore, K. L., "Exploring the association between changes in partner behaviors, perceived service member drinking, and relationship quality: Secondary analysis of a web-based intervention for military partners," Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 98, 2019

Trail, T. E., Martin, L. T., Burgette, L. F., Warren May, L., Mahmud, A., Nanda, N., & Chandra, A., An Evaluation of U.S. Military Non-Medical Counseling Programs, RAND Corp. (RR-1861), 2017

Karney, B. R. & Trail, T. E., "Associations between prior deployments and marital satisfaction among Army couples," Journal of Marriage and Family, 79, 2017

Trail, T. E., Meadows, S. O., Miles, J. N. V., & Karney, B. R., "Patterns of vulnerabilities and resources in U.S. military families," Journal of Family Issues, 2015

Trail, T. E., Goff, P. A., Bradbury, T. N., & Karney, B. R., "The costs of racism for marriage: How racial discrimination hurts, and ethnic identity protects, newlywed marriages among Latinos," Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 38, 2012

Trail, T. E. & Karney, B. R., "What’s (not) wrong with low-income marriages," Journal of Marriage and Family, 74, 2012

Trail, T. E., Shelton, J. N., & West, T. V., "Daily interracial interactions and interpersonal behaviors," Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 35, 2009

Commentary

Military Families

The Impact of Deployments on Military Marriages
The evidence linking combat deployments directly to poorer marital functioning has been sparse and contradictory. Although marital satisfaction among military couples declined from 2003 to 2009, the divorce rate among them remained steady.
Sep 2, 2016
Family Studies

Publications

Report
The Today's Army Spouse Panel Proof-of-Concept Study: Methodological Report
Researchers evaluate the effectiveness of the Today's Army Spouse Panel, an operational proof of concept survey panel of U.S. Army spouses, in recruiting participants and providing timely information representative of Army spouses.
Jan 17, 2023
Report
Today's Army Spouse Panel Survey Results: Impact of COVID-19, August 2020 to May 2021
Survey data from the Today's Army Spouse Panel offer insights into how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected U.S. Army spouses in terms of their finances, employment, and child care and highlight the issues they navigated during this challenging period.
Jan 17, 2023
Research Brief
Food Insecurity in the U.S. Military: Responses to Eight Topics Raised by Congress
In response to a congressional query, RAND researchers examined the extent of food insecurity among military service members, their participation in food assistance programs, and the advisability of a basic needs allowance.
Jan 3, 2023
Report
Food Insecurity Among Members of the Armed Forces and Their Dependents
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 directed the Secretary of Defense to report on food insecurity among service members and their dependents. RAND researchers examined this directive and recommended other topics for analysis.
Jan 3, 2023
Report
Among Black Americans, Is Military Service Associated with Better Quality of Life?
RAND researchers examined the ways in which military service might be correlated with certain health, economic, and social outcomes for Black Americans and explored several factors that could be meaningful to their health and well-being.
Nov 9, 2022
Report
National Guard Youth ChalleNGe: Program Progress in 2020–2021
The National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program serves young people experiencing difficulty in traditional high school. This report documents program trends in 2020–2021 and presents analyses on the Job ChalleNGe program.

Aug 22, 2022
Report
Developing Outcome Measures for the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program
The National Guard Youth ChalleNGe is a residential program for youth experiencing difficulties in traditional high school. This capstone report describes some of RAND's research and analyses on the ChalleNGe program from late 2017 through mid-2020.
Mar 2, 2022
Report
Today's Army Spouse Experiences In Garrison: Problem Solving, Resource Use, and Connections to the Army Community
The U.S. Army provides many resources to help soldiers and their families cope with life events associated with Army service. The authors explore Army spouses' experiences in navigating available resources and how those experiences might be improved.
Dec 15, 2021
Tool
A Guide to Evaluating Marine and Family Division Programs, Services, and Capabilities
The goal of this program evaluation toolkit is to help those responsible for implementing U.S. Marine Corps Marine and Family Division programs to determine whether those programs are effective and ultimately to guide efficient use of resources.
Sep 30, 2021
Tool
A Guide to Evaluating Marine and Family Division Programs, Services, and Capabilities: An Introduction to Program Evaluation
The U.S. Marine Corps' Marine and Family Program Division (MF) portfolio includes a variety of programs and services. This tool provides a brief introduction to program evaluation, the use of systematic processes to assess a program's effectiveness.
Sep 30, 2021
Report
An Evaluation of the Military OneSource Call Center in Select Groups of Callers: Call Quality, Call Outcomes, and Caller Satisfaction
The authors evaluate call quality, call outcomes, and caller satisfaction for the Military OneSource call center for military personnel and their families. They provide recommendations for operations and identify areas for future study.
Jun 23, 2021
Report
Healthy Relationship Approaches to Sexual Assault Prevention: Programs and Strategies for Use Within the U.S. Military
This guide provides prevention teams and leaders with an overview of a healthy relationship approach to sexual assault prevention, why it could be an effective tool, and strategies for implementing a program as part of their prevention portfolio.
May 13, 2021
Report
The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP): Policy Alignment Between the Department of Defense and the Services
Each military service branch runs its own Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP). The authors compare service branch EFMP policy with the overarching Department of Defense (DoD) policy, pointing to areas where each policy may be edited for more consistency.
May 3, 2021
Report
Integrating Psychological Counseling into National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Programs: Insights and Recommendations from Current Practices
To learn how the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program can support cadets with mental health disorders, RAND researchers interviewed counselors and surveyed ChalleNGe sites about their counseling services and cadets’ mental health needs in 2019.
Apr 8, 2021
Journal Article
The Relationship Between Engagement in Online Support Groups and Social Isolation Among Military Caregivers: Longitudinal Questionnaire Study
It is unclear how well online groups reduce social isolation and improve mental health among military caregivers. This study focused on members of a new online community for military caregivers, compared with caregivers who were members of existing groups.
Apr 29, 2020
Report
2017 U.S. Air Force Community Feedback Tool: Key Results Report for Air Force Headquarters
This report presents results from a self-reported needs assessment of airmen, spouses of airmen, and Air Force civilian employees intended to help leadership and service providers better address the major challenges that community members are facing.
Nov 14, 2019
Research Brief
How Army Families Address Life's Challenges
A survey of more than 8,500 Army spouses examining their problem-solving processes found that the most common problems involved work-life balance, military practices and culture, and spouses' own well-being. Spouses most often wanted social support.
Oct 21, 2019
Infographic
Army Spouse Survey: Data to Help the Army Meet Spouses' Unique Needs
A survey of Army spouses identified challenges that Army families face and resources they need, including how spouses prioritize needs and how the Army can best address their most-pressing unmet needs.
Oct 8, 2019
Report
Today's Army Spouse Survey: How Army Families Address Life's Challenges
This report identifies challenges that Army families face and resources they need, from the perspectives of spouses, including how spouses prioritize needs and how the Army can best address their most-pressing unmet needs.
Oct 3, 2019
Draft
The Impact of a Spouse Incentive on Employee Retention: Evidence from a Military Spouse Scholarship
The authors evaluate the impact of the U.S. Department of Defense's My Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) Scholarship program, which provides tuition assistance to military spouses for education and training, on the retention of military personnel.
Aug 23, 2019
Report
An Early Evaluation of the My Career Advancement Account Scholarship for Military Spouses
My Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) Scholarships are intended to help military spouses with education and employment. This report evaluates MyCAA use, employment and earnings of eligible spouses, and service continuation of their service members.
Nov 29, 2018
Research Brief
Early Evidence from the My Career Advancement Account Scholarship for Military Spouses: Work, Earnings, and Retention
My Career Advancement Account Scholarships are intended to help military spouses with education and employment. The percentage of eligible spouses working declined over time, but users were more likely than nonusers to be working two years later.
Nov 29, 2018
Report
Assessing the Needs of Soldiers and Their Families at the Garrison Level
This report provides information on the results of a garrison-level analysis of survey data from the RAND Arroyo Center's 2014 formal needs assessment survey of active component soldiers and an exploration of help-seeking via focus groups.
Jul 24, 2018
Report
Charting Progress: U.S. Military Non-Medical Counseling Programs
This chartbook summarizes findings from an evaluation of two programs offered by the DoD that provide solution-focused counseling for common personal and family issues to members of the active and reserve components of the U.S. military and their families.
Apr 27, 2018
Infographic
Helping Military Families: A Look at Non-Medical Counseling Programs in the U.S. Military
A recent evaluation of the military's non-medical counseling programs suggests that they help military personnel and their families. Participants gave the programs favorable ratings, and most reported improvement over a three-month period.
Jan 16, 2018
Report
National Guard Youth ChalleNGe: Program Progress in 2015–2016
National Guard Youth ChalleNGe is a residential, quasi-military program for young people at risk of dropping out of high school. This report provides information on recent ChalleNGe participants and develops metrics of program success.
Nov 1, 2017
Report
An Evaluation of U.S. Military Non-Medical Counseling Programs
This report evaluates two programs offered by the U.S. Department of Defense that provide solution-focused counseling for common personal and family issues to members of the active and reserve components of the U.S. military and their families.
Oct 23, 2017
Research Brief
U.S. Military Non-Medical Counseling Programs Demonstrate Benefits for Participants
RAND's evaluation of Military and Family Life Counseling and Military OneSource, based on participant surveys, suggests that these programs are largely effective for service members and families who have used these services.
Oct 23, 2017
Journal Article
Efficacy of a Web-based Intervention for Concerned Spouses of Service Members and Veterans with Alcohol Misuse
We found Partners Connect reduced CP anxiety and increased their emotional and tangible social support, factors that have a strong research base in affecting quality of life and health outcomes.
Oct 18, 2017
Report
Today's Soldier: Assessing the Needs of Soldiers and Their Families
This report describes results of surveying 7000 soldiers about the problems that they and their families face, their needs for assistance, use of Army and non-Army resources to address those needs, and the implications of unmet needs for soldiers.
Oct 9, 2017
Research Brief
Improving Support for America's Hidden Heroes: A Military Caregiver Research Blueprint
In this brief, RAND researchers document the construction and elements of a research blueprint to inform future efforts to improve support for military and veteran caregivers.
Jun 14, 2017
Report
Improving Support for America's Hidden Heroes: A Research Blueprint
In this report, RAND researchers document the construction and elements of a research blueprint to inform future efforts to improve support for military and veteran caregivers.
Jun 14, 2017
Report
Improving Oversight and Coordination of Department of Defense Programs That Address Problematic Behaviors Among Military Personnel: Final Report
This report makes recommendations for the Office of the Secretary of Defense to better understand the relationships among six problematic behaviors and its oversight and coordination of programs to address those behaviors.
Jan 25, 2017
Journal Article
Alcohol Use Among Concerned Partners of Heavy Drinking Service Members and Veterans
An intervention to improve mental health and communication among military spouses worried about their partners' drinking reduced depression more effectively for spouses who also drank heavily.
2017
Report
The Military Spouse Education and Career Opportunities Program: Recommendations for an Internal Monitoring System
This report outlines a strategy for the U.S. Department of Defense Military Community and Family Policy office to track progress on initiatives that aim to provide career development and employment assistance for military spouses.
Sep 7, 2016
Journal Article
Associations Between Prior Deployments and Marital Satisfaction Among Army Couples
The analyses described in this article compare associations between prior deployments and current marital satisfaction across four different ways of measuring prior deployment within a large and representative sample of married Army service members and their spouses.
Jul 28, 2016
Journal Article
Preparing for Deployment: Examining Family and Individual-Level Factors
Deployment can be a significant source of stress for military families. Understanding how families prepare in the face of such stress, and which families are less likely to prepare, is a priority of the Department of Defense.
Jul 25, 2016
Research Brief
How Military Families Respond Before, During and After Deployment: Findings from the RAND Deployment Life Study
This overview of the findings from the RAND Deployment Life Study describes the effects of deployment on marital relationships, family environment, psychological and behavioral health, child well-being, and military integration.
Apr 15, 2016
Report
The Deployment Life Study: Longitudinal Analysis of Military Families Across the Deployment Cycle
In 2009, RAND launched the Deployment Life Study to study military family readiness. This report presents analyses on marital relationships, family environment, psychological and behavioral health, child well-being, and military integration.
Apr 7, 2016
Journal Article
The Salience and Severity of Relationship Problems Among Low-Income Couples
Developing policies that are responsive to the needs of, and attractive to, low-income couples requires, at minimum, descriptive data on the challenges those couples perceive in their own relationships.
2016
Report
Implications of Integrating Women into the Marine Corps Infantry
This study for the U.S. Marine Corps reviews the history of the integration of women into the U.S. military and explores the role of cohesion, the gender integration of foreign militaries and domestic police and fire departments, and potential costs.
Dec 3, 2015
Research Brief
Implications of Integrating Women into USMC Infantry
The Marine Corps Combat Development Command asked RAND to study the integration of women into infantry combat roles. Researchers reviewed the literature, conducted interviews, estimated costs, and developed an approach for monitoring integration.
Dec 3, 2015
Journal Article
Patterns of Vulnerabilities and Resources in U.S. Military Families
The appropriate format for services supporting military families depends on how vulnerabilities and resources are distributed across and within those families.
Jul 14, 2015
Report
Federal Educational Assistance Programs Available to Service Members: Program Features and Recommendations for Improved Delivery
RAND reviewed federal educational assistance programs for service members to provide an overall view of the system and suggest ways to assess it and help manage individuals' use of the programs.
Feb 23, 2015
Journal Article
Feeling (Mis)understood and Intergroup Friendships in Interracial Interactions
Across three experience sampling studies, we found that among ethnic minorities who have few White friends or are not interacting with White friends, daily interracial interactions are associated with feeling less understood.
Sep 1, 2014
Journal Article
Study Design to Develop and Pilot-Test a Web Intervention for Partners of Military Service Members with Alcohol Misuse
Alcohol misuse among military service members from the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan is over two times higher compared to misuse in the civilian population.
Sep 1, 2014
Report
Key Facts and Statistics from the RAND Military Caregivers Study
This presentation slide deck offers key facts and statistics from the RAND Military Caregivers Study.
Apr 16, 2014
Report
Hidden Heroes: America's Military Caregivers — Executive Summary
This summary distills a longer report, Hidden Heroes: America's Military Caregivers. It describes the magnitude of military caregiving in the United States, identifies gaps in support services, and offers recommendations.
Mar 31, 2014
Report
Hidden Heroes: America's Military Caregivers
This report summarizes a study designed to describe the magnitude of military caregiving in the United States today, as well as to identify gaps in the array of programs, policies, and initiatives designed to support military caregivers.
Mar 31, 2014
Research Brief
Military Caregivers: Who are They? And Who Is Supporting Them?
Presents an overview of findings and recommendations from RAND's sweeping study of military caregivers and their support environment.
Mar 31, 2014
Research Brief
Military Caregivers in the Workplace
Presents findings from RAND's sweeping study of military caregivers on the effect of military caregiving on employment and the workplace.
Mar 31, 2014
Research Brief
Supporting Military Caregivers: The Role of Health Providers
Examines how health care providers can best support military caregivers based on RAND's sweeping study of this population and their support environment.
Mar 31, 2014
Research Brief
Supporting Military Caregivers: Options for Congress
Presents options Congress might take to support military caregivers based on RAND's sweeping study of this population and their support environment.
Mar 31, 2014
Research Brief
Support Resources for Military Caregivers
Provides an overview of support resources for military caregivers based on RAND's sweeping study of this population and their support environment.
Mar 31, 2014
Journal Article
Does Premarital Education Decrease or Increase Couples' Later Help-Seeking?
Interventions intended to prevent relationship distress are expected to enhance relationship satisfaction and, in turn, reduce the need for later couples counseling.
Feb 1, 2014