Evidence of effectiveness in current supports for UK Armed Forces families: A rapid realist review

This study addresses a critical gap in understanding the effectiveness of interventions and policies supporting UK Armed Forces families in the context of recruitment and retention challenges highlighted by the Living in Our Shoes (MoD, 2020) and Haythornthwaite (2023) reviews. Using an Accelerated Parallelised Realist-Informed Literature review (APRIL) methodology, Phase 1 scoped evidence on interventions for military families since 2020, identifying what works, for whom, in what circumstances and why. Synthesising these findings produced an iterated programme theory describing the current landscape of support, highlighting effective mechanisms and evidence gaps. This work informs future policy and practice to strengthen family wellbeing as a driver of operational readiness and retention, with planned stakeholder consultations to shape next-stage impact activities.