Experiences of U.S. military couples during the post-deployment transition

Abstract

Although many military couples eagerly await reunion after deployment, the reentry of service members into family life can be challenging. This study employed the relational turbulence model to identify the issues facing military couples during the post-deployment transition. Individuals who had been reunited with their romantic partner during the past six months (N = 259; 137 service members, 122 partners) completed an online questionnaire. Content analytic results indicated that people encounter diverse changes to their relationship (RQ1), issues of relational uncertainty (RQ2), and interference in their daily routines (RQ3). Women, at-home partners, and reservist couples appear especially likely to encounter upheaval (RQ4). The relational turbulence model may have utility for illuminating the experiences of military couples upon reintegration.

Today's Soldier: Assessing the Needs of Soldiers and Their Families

“…A military family may also decide to separate temporarily when the soldier moves to the next assignment because of shorter duration assignments (e.g., one year at a military school), to avoid disrupting children or a spouse's education or career, or because the family is unable to sell its home (Blue Star Families, 2014). While deployments can strengthen relationships, couples can also face problems reconnecting, difficulty communicating, heightened conflict, undesirable changes in sexual behavior, and problems reintegrating the service member into new daily routines that developed while he or she was away (Knobloch and Theiss, 2012). Relationship problems have been found to be a common stressor occurring before Army soldier suicides (Nock et al, 2013).…”

Depressive Symptoms, Relational Turbulence, and the Reintegration Difficulty of Military Couples Following Wartime Deployment

“…Upon homecoming, military couples face the tasks of reconnecting with each other, building closeness, making meaning from their deployment experiences, and renegotiating autonomy (Bowling & Sherman, 2008;Knobloch & Theiss, 2012). Depressive symptoms are likely to complicate all of these endeavors (e.g., Sayers, 2011;Sayers, Farrow, Ross, & Oslin, 2009), particularly because people may question the viability of their relationship and hamper each other's everyday routines (Knobloch & Delaney, 2012;Knobloch, Knobloch-Fedders, & Durbin, 2011;Knobloch & Theiss, 2011a).…”

“…Recent work implies that relational uncertainty may be a mechanism of turbulence for military couples navigating reintegration following deployment. Knobloch and Theiss (2012) solicited open-ended comments from returning service members and at-home partners about the issues they were unsure about upon reunion; 84% of participants who responded to the open-ended item nominated at least one issue of relational uncertainty. Seven themes were apparent, including questions about how to build commitment, incorporate the returning service member back into daily life, manage household stressors, cope with personality changes, negotiate sexual intimacy and possible infidelity, safeguard the health of the returning service member, and communicate effectively.…”

Communication, Coping, and Connections: Campers’ and Parents’ Perspectives of Self-Efficacy and Benefits of Participation in Deployment Support Camps

“…Others have also identified positive changes and opportunities from a deployment. Both youth and adults reported strengthened relationships and family cohesion (Knobloch et al, 2015;Knobloch & Theiss, 2012) and increased independence and autonomy (Castenada et al, 2008;Knobloch et al, 2015;Knobloch & Theiss, 2012;Mmari et al, 2009) as a result of deployment. Because self-efficacy influences whether individuals undertake and persist in challenging tasks, promoting self-efficacy can be an asset for overcoming the challenges associated with deployment.…”

“…Effectively dealing with challenging circumstances may be a catalyst for growth (Easterbrooks et al, 2013). Both youth and adults have reported strengthened relationships and family cohesion (Knobloch et al, 2015;Knobloch & Theiss, 2012) and increased independence and autonomy (Castenada et al, 2008;Knobloch et al, 2015;Knobloch & Theiss, 2012;Mmari et al, 2009) as a result of deployment. Pride in their deployed parent's service is also a positive theme that has been reported (Ferrari & Leonard, 2007;Houston et al, 2009;Knobloch et al, 2015).…”