Relational Turbulence Within Military Couples During Reintegration Following Deployment

Reunion following deployment is a critical juncture for returning service members and their romantic partners. Studies suggest that reintegration can be an emotionally volatile period of heightened expectations, profound joys, and unexpected frustrations. We draw on the relational turbulence model to shed light on how military couples navigate the reentry period. The model argues that times of transition are turbulent within romantic relationships because people encounter relational uncertainty as well as interference from partners in their everyday routines. We devote this chapter to reviewing the model’s assumptions, describing data from investigations involving recently-reunited romantic partners, proposing recommendations for practice, and delineating pathways for future research.