Coping Behaviors Used by Army Wives During Deployment Separation and Their Perceived Effectiveness

It is important for military spouses to use effective coping strategies during deployment to avoid mental and physical health problems. Wives of Active Duty Soldiers completed surveys regarding coping strategies used during deployment and the perceived efficacy of those strategies. Overall, the more effective a coping strategy was perceived to be, the more commonly wives used that strategy, with the most commonly used coping strategies being optimism (e.g., thinking positively and maintaining a positive attitude) and seeking support (e.g., family, friends, professionals, religion).