Updates on the National Military Family Bereavement Study. Presentation at the 22nd Annual TAPS National Military Survivor Seminar

This presentation will provide information about the National Military Family Bereavement Study (NMFBS), discuss current study progress, preliminary findings and future directions. The NMFBS is the first large scientific study of the impact of a U.S. service member death on surviving family members. The research is being conducted by Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress (CSTS) in Bethesda, Maryland. Since its inception in 2011, the NMFBS has collected information from over 2250 adult and child family members of military service members who have died serving on active status in any branch of the military since September 11, 2001. The study has collected baseline self-report surveys, focus group information and saliva samples (for genetic testing) from participants (including parents, spouses/partners, siblings and children). In addition, nearly 1000 adults and children are participating in three yearly interviews to provide information about changes in bereavement outcomes over time. Data analyses will continue during the next several years and official reports will be published in the scientific literature. Preliminary findings identify continued needs in this population of bereaved military family members. These findings and the future direction of the project will be discussed.

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