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Families

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A multigenerational group of people who share a close relationship and generally live in the same household, with one or more parents caring for biological or adopted children, families also include adult children who care for their elderly parents. RAND research on families spans various populations and socioeconomic backgrounds in developed as well as developing countries and addresses such topics as child welfare, fertility, marriage and divorce, and household economic security.

News Release
Care Experiences Are Worse in For-Profit Hospices Than in Not-for-Profit Hospices
Family caregivers of patients treated by more than 3,100 U.S. hospices reported worse care experiences on average from for-profit hospices across all of the domains assessed, including help for pain and getting timely care.
Feb 27, 2023
Commentary
Service Members and Their Families Are Paying for the Air Force's Fiscal Shortfalls
The United States faces the critical task of rebalancing long-term military personnel funding for sustainable workforce development and utilization. Otherwise, it could fail to keep the faith with the U.S. military's most precious asset: people and families.
Jul 31, 2023

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Essay
Military Caregivers Share the Costs of War
Millions of veterans and service members receive care from family and friends who need support as well. Military caregivers sacrifice their time, their jobs, and even their health to provide a service worth billions of dollars to the United States. RAND research illuminates who they are, what they do, and what they need to succeed.
Oct 30, 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
Periodical
RAND Review: November-December 2017
This issue highlights recent RAND research on post-9/11 military caregivers; RAND-Lex, a computer program built at RAND that can analyze huge data sets of text; and the implications of climate change on Arctic cooperation.
Oct 19, 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
Bridging Gaps in Veterans' Mental Health Care
The Welcome Back Veterans (WBV) Initiative aims to bridge gaps in mental health care for returning veterans and their families. Strategic planning will help ensure WBV's continued effectiveness.
Oct 9, 2017
Research Brief
The Changing Landscape for Veterans' Mental Health Care
The changing landscape of veterans' mental health care poses challenges for the Welcome Back Veterans (WBV) initiative. Examining these challenges may help WBV ensure continued success and sustainability.
Oct 9, 2017
Research Brief
A New Way Forward in Veterans' Mental Health Care: How "Welcome Back Veterans" Is Making a Difference
This brief provides an overview of the Welcome Back Veterans (WBV) initiative, which provides grants to programs focused on addressing the mental health needs of service members, veterans, and their families.
Oct 9, 2017
Report
Are Soldiers Getting What They Need?
In addition to typical household issues, U.S. military families deal with unique challenges, such as deployments and frequent moves. A survey of more than 7,000 active-duty soldiers provides insight into the problems they face, their needs, and the resources they use.
Oct 9, 2017
Commentary
Debunking 5 Myths of Sleeping Together
About a third of American adults choose not to sleep with their partner, and evidence suggests that their ranks are growing. This decision often results in social stigma, including some dubious assumptions that sleeping apart is a sign of a sexless or otherwise unhappy marriage.
Sep 27, 2017
Journal Article
Primary Care Providers with More Experience and Stronger Self-Efficacy Beliefs Regarding Women Veterans Screen More Frequently for Interpersonal Violence
Some primary care provider experiences and beliefs regarding women's health care influence rates of screening for military sexual trauma (MST) and/or intimate partner violence (IPV) .
Sep 6, 2017
News Release
Largest-Ever Study of Pets and Kids’ Health Finds No Link; Findings Dispute Widely Held Beliefs About Positive Effects ...
Contrary to popular belief, having a dog or cat in the home does not improve the mental or physical health of children. This largest-ever study explored the notion that pets can improve children's health by increasing physical activity and improving young people's empathy skills.
Aug 7, 2017
Journal Article
Deployment Length, Inflammatory Markers, and Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Military Couples
Longer deployments are associated with changes in a range of health-related markers in military veterans as well as their spouses.
Aug 4, 2017
Journal Article
Safer Conception for Couples Affected by HIV: Structural and Cultural Considerations in the Delivery of Safer Conception Care in Uganda
Sociocultural and structural factors, such as a reluctance to discuss childbearing desires, can present barriers to the implementation of safer conception counseling for HIV-affected couples.
Aug 3, 2017
Commentary
Military Power Is All About People: A Return to Personnel Policy
Ensuring the strength of U.S. armed forces is critical to U.S. national security and the key source of strength is its people. True investment in personnel is a long-term legacy and an investment worthy of attention and policy debate to ensure the United States continues to recruit and retain the most effective fighting force in the world.
Jul 27, 2017
Testimony
Creating Better Support for Military and Veteran Caregivers
Caregivers who provide unpaid, informal support to current and former U.S. service members are a key part of America's care for returning warriors. A new research blueprint could help improve support for these
Jun 14, 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 Military and Veteran Caregivers: A Research Blueprint
Millions of Americans provide informal care and support to current and former U.S. service members. A new research blueprint could help inform efforts to improve support for these “hidden heroes.”
Jun 14, 2017
Multimedia
Creating Better Support for Our Nation's Hidden Heroes
An overview of the testimony presented by Terri Tanielian before the Senate Special Committee on Aging on June 14, 2017.
Jun 14, 2017
Journal Article
Identifying Policy Implications and Future Research Directions Regarding Military Community Support and Child Psychosocial Adjustment
Efforts to organize and consolidate the wide range of support services designed to bolster resilience in military families could enhance service members' mission readiness.
Jun 7, 2017

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RAND Topic:
Families

Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Lisa Sontag-Padilla

Senior Behavioral and Social Scientist

Lisa Sontag-Padilla is a senior behavioral and social scientist at the RAND Corporation. She has over 15 years of research experience focusing on youth mental health and well-being, as well as expertise in college mental health, social emotional well-being, parent-child relationships, research…
Lynsay Ayer

Senior Behavioral and Social Scientist

Lynsay Ayer (she/her) is a senior behavioral and social scientist at RAND and a professor of policy analysis at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. The overarching goals of her research are (a) to prevent violence and trauma (e.g., child maltreatment, suicide, disasters) and (b) prevent and treat…

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