A Multiple Goals Analysis of Families Attempting to Encourage U.S. Service Members to Seek Behavioral Health Care: Linking the GPA Model and Confirmation Theory

Abstract

Drawing on the goals-plans-action (GPA) model and confirmation theory, this study explores associations between family members’ primary and secondary goals, planning (i.e., subgoals related to accomplishing the primary goal), and messages encouraging military service members (SMs) to seek behavioral health care. Family members (N = 244) of SMs who had been deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan described what they would say in a scenario where their SM was displaying mental health symptoms and provided importance ratings for primary and secondary goals as well as subgoals. Based on confirmation theory, messages were coded for levels of acceptance, challenge, and autonomy support. Primary goals predicted multiple dimensions of confirmation, both directly and indirectly through subgoals, but the direction of these effects often ran contrary to one another. Secondary goals also predicted confirmation after controlling for primary goal importance. Implications for the GPA model, confirmation theory, and programs that support military families are discussed.