Military Deployment and the Spouse Left Behind

Recently, the impact of deployment, especially war-zone experiences on the well-being of military personnel and veterans, has received much attention. Findings show that combat exposure may be linked to an array of negative health consequences, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), for the deployed individual and stress that is placed on the family. Married U.S. college students from Camp Lejeune and Fort Bragg, North Carolina, were asked to complete a survey measuring depression, anxiety, social support, and marital satisfaction. Comparisons of means between participants with spouses in the military and participants with a civilian spouse showed no significant differences in depression and anxiety. Participants with a military spouse did report significantly higher social support, and the same group was more likely to report marital discord. Implications for these findings, especially the prevalence of high marital discord associated with lengthy military deployment, are discussed.