Intimate Partner Communication From the War Zone: A Prospective Study of Relationship Functioning, Communication Frequency, and Combat Effectiveness

Deployment can be a significant stressor for Service members’ romantic relationships. In this study, researchers utilized a prospective longitudinal design to follow Airmen’s relationship functioning, communication, depression, and perception of their duty performance over the course of a deployment cycle. Results indicated that relationship functioning changed during deployment for many Airmen and was a significant predictor of frequency of communication and self-reported duty performance during deployment.