Quality of Life and Military Outcomes: A Conceptual Framework and Suggestions forPlanned Research

摘要

This report presents a conceptual framework and suggestions for a planned studyof quality of life (QOL) and military outcomes among Navy personnel. The conceptual framework links individual variables (e.g., age, marital status, and Navy paygrade) and contextual Navy variables (e.g., command) with two conceptions of subjective QOL: satisfaction with particular domains in one's life (e.g., marriage and job) and global life satisfaction. A number of facets of life domains are identified, including overall satisfaction, satisfaction with aspects of the domain, centrality of the domain, and perceived relevance of the Navy to domain satisfaction. QOL needs in a given domain are represented as the interaction of domain satisfaction and centrality. Additional contributors to life satisfaction are recent experiences of satisfaction and dissatisfaction within life domains, the degree to which individuals' personal characteristics fit the Navy environment, and personal dispositions such as optimism. Three types of person-level military outcomes are considered: retention, job performance, and readiness. These outcomes are related to global and domain satisfaction and to person-environment fit. One section of the report lists expectations derived from the conceptual framework; another presents specific research recommendations.