Health and Well-Being

Written by: Austin B. Byrd, DVM, School of Veterinary Medicine, Texas Tech University As we grow older, maintaining our health—physically, emotionally, and mentally—becomes more important than ever. For many older adults, companion animals like dogs and cats are more than just pets, they’re lifelines that provide comfort, purpose, and joy....

Breastfeeding is the process of feeding an infant with milk from the breasts. All post-pregnancy female mammals, including humans, undergo lactation, the production of milk from the mammary glands to feed a newborn (Capuco & Akers, 2009). Breast milk is produced naturally under the control of hormones.

Financial challenges significantly affect families’ ability to ensure adequate nutrition. This can often manifest as food insecurity, a social or economic condition of uncertain access to food.

Written by: Rachel Brauner Military caregivers play a critical role in supporting service members and veterans (SMVs), often assuming long-term responsibilities that significantly affect their own well-being (Ramchand et al., 2024). But what happens when the caregiving ends? A recent longitudinal study by Brickell et al., (2023) offers new insight...

Implementing effective financial risk management strategies can serve as a buffer to maintain financial security across military family transitions.

Promoting military fathers’ positive involvement in caring for and raising children is a protective factor and promotes positive family functioning. Children exhibit fewer risk behaviors and engage in healthier, positive social skills when their parents are actively involved (El Nokali et al., 2010).

Written by: Rachel Brauner Military life presents unique stressors for families such frequent relocations, long deployments, and the emotional toll of service-related trauma can deeply impact not just service members, but also their spouses and children. A new study published in Military Behavioral Health (Wasserman et al., 2023) highlights a powerful...

Youth mental health concerns are complex. Frequently, concerns are attributed to hormones, stress at school, or just having a “teenage attitude.” With military youth, it is important to remember that mental health concerns can sometimes be exacerbated by parental deployment or repeated relocations. It can be hard for military children to find stable sources of support when their support systems are constantly changing.

Micronutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, play an essential role in maintaining health and preventing diseases. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 2 billion people suffer from micronutrient deficiencies, which accounts for approximately 30% of the global population.

This blog post discusses developing strong social-emotional learning skills as a protective factor for children and youth.