2003-2009 Marital Functioning Trends Among U.S. Enlisted Soldiers Following Combat Deployments

Objective: This study examined 2003–2009 trends in three marital functioning indicators: marital quality, infidelity, and separation/divorce intent, and in marital dissolution rates among U.S. soldiers. Methods: Marital functioning trends were examined with cross-sectional postdeployment sample data collected under the Land Combat Study from married, male, enlisted soldiers who had deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan (n = 5,928). Marital dissolution rates were examined with population data (n = 1,895,571). The relationships between time (measured by year) and all study variables were analyzed with 2 tests of association, analysis of variance, and logistic regression analyses adjusting for combat exposure, mental and physical health, and demographic variables. Results: Marital quality has declined, and reports of past-year infidelity and separation/divorce intent have increased between 2003 and 2009. However, no increases were observed in marital dissolution rates. Conclusions: The results indicate that more proximal indicators of marital functioning such as decreased marital quality, infidelity, and separation/divorce intent may better illustrate the strain that increased deployment tempo exerts on marital relationships. The findings provide a better understanding of how Army marriages have been affected by the wars, and suggest that further inquiry is needed on military marriages.