Publication year
2017
Citation Title
The risk for marital infidelity across a year-long deployment.
Journal Name
Journal of Family Psychology
Journal Volume
Jan
Issue Number
2017
DOI
10.1037/fam0000281
Summary
Pre- and post-deployment data from 63 married male Airmen was used to explore the prevalence and risk factors associated with marital infidelity (either emotional or physical), committed by the Service member, their spouse, or both partners, following a year-long deployment to Iraq. Results indicate that sexual infidelity during a deployment cycle were higher than civilian estimates. A variety of relationship factors were associated with an increased risk of infidelity during or immediately (6-9 months) following a deployment.
Key Findings
Nearly 30% (n = 18) of Airmen experienced infidelity (either emotional or physical) committed by the Service member, their spouse, or both partners prior to being deployed. Additionally, 30% (n = 18) of Airmen experienced either emotional or physical infidelity during or since their deployment.
Physical sexual infidelity rates prior to deployment were similar to rates of sexual infidelity among civilians but rates during deployment were substantially higher for military members compared to non-military civilians.
Relationship distress, previous separation, and greater steps towards divorce were associated with an increased risk of infidelity by either partner during or immediately following a deployment.
Marital dissolution was more likely among Airmen who had experienced infidelity committed by either the Service member, their spouse, or both partners during or immediately following their deployment (75%).
Implications for Program Leaders
Offer workshops aimed at increasing communication and enhancing couple intimacy prior to and during deployment
Disseminate information regarding the unique challenges military couples and families experience and tips on how to strengthen couple and family relationships
Offer pre- and post-deployment support groups for couple who are experiencing relationship distress or infidelity concerns
Implications for Policy Makers
Continue to support programs that aim to increase resilience among military couples and build strong relationships that can effectively cope with a deployment
Continue to support research efforts aimed at understanding the risk factors associated with infidelity to develop cohesive interventions and prevention efforts that build stronger military families
Facilitate collaboration between military-related and community-based services that support military couples strengthen their relationships
Methods
The participants were a sub-set of a larger study examining risk and protective factors across a year-long deployment during 2009-2010.
Only those who were married, male, and completed the pre- and post-deployment assessments were included.
Participants answered a variety of questions regarding infidelity, relationship distress, steps taken towards relationship dissolution, and the status of their relationship.
Participants
The sample consisted of 63 married male Airmen who had, on average, been married for 6.40 years (SD = 5.58).
Mean age was approximately 29 years (SD = 6.50), with the majority of participants identifying as White (71%).
Forty-five percent of participants had deployed twice previously, and the average duration of all deployments in an OEF/OIF mission was close to 15 months (SD = 10.76).
Limitations
The sample was only comprised of active-duty Airmen, limiting the applicability to other branches of the military.
Female Service members were not included in the study; therefore, conclusions based on this sample do not represent their experiences of infidelity.
Only the perspective of the Service member is included in the study and spouses’ experience of infidelity may differ, limiting the generalizability of the results.
Avenues for Future Research
Include Service members from different branches of the military to get a more comprehensive understanding regarding how infidelity is experienced across all branches of the military
Explore how the experiences of infidelity are similar or different between Service members and their partners to better understand the effect of deployment on infidelity
Continue exploring risk factors associated with infidelity among military couples to develop effective prevention and intervention strategies
Focus
Air Force
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Branch
Military Component
Abstract
Military deployment can create significant relationship strain. Although most couples navigate the
challenges of deployment successfully, this period may render some couples more vulnerable to adverse relationship outcomes such as infidelity due to a convergence of factors including geographic separation and reduced emotional and physical intimacy. Despite anecdotal reports of increased rates of infidelity during deployment, empirical findings are lacking. This study used a prospective design to examine the prevalence and risk factors of infidelity across the deployment cycle including a year-long deployment to Iraq. A total of 63 married male Airmen were assessed both pre- and 6–9 months postdeployment. The rate of sexual infidelity prior to deployment (21%) was commensurate with the lifetime rate of sexual involvement outside the marriage in representative community samples of men. Across the deployment period, the prevalence of sexual infidelity was strikingly high (22.6%) compared with annual community estimates (1.5–4%; Allen et al., 2005). Findings demonstrated that service members with a prior history of separation, steps toward divorce, and relationship distress prior to deployment had elevated risk for infidelity over the deployment cycle. Moreover, roughly 75% of Airmen who experienced infidelity over the deployment cycle divorced by 6–9 months postdeployment whereas only 5% of service members without infidelity divorced during this same time period. Considering well-documented adverse impacts of infidelity and divorce, the current findings may assist in identifying military couples at risk for infidelity and informing targeted prevention or early intervention strategies for these couples prior to or immediately following deployment.
challenges of deployment successfully, this period may render some couples more vulnerable to adverse relationship outcomes such as infidelity due to a convergence of factors including geographic separation and reduced emotional and physical intimacy. Despite anecdotal reports of increased rates of infidelity during deployment, empirical findings are lacking. This study used a prospective design to examine the prevalence and risk factors of infidelity across the deployment cycle including a year-long deployment to Iraq. A total of 63 married male Airmen were assessed both pre- and 6–9 months postdeployment. The rate of sexual infidelity prior to deployment (21%) was commensurate with the lifetime rate of sexual involvement outside the marriage in representative community samples of men. Across the deployment period, the prevalence of sexual infidelity was strikingly high (22.6%) compared with annual community estimates (1.5–4%; Allen et al., 2005). Findings demonstrated that service members with a prior history of separation, steps toward divorce, and relationship distress prior to deployment had elevated risk for infidelity over the deployment cycle. Moreover, roughly 75% of Airmen who experienced infidelity over the deployment cycle divorced by 6–9 months postdeployment whereas only 5% of service members without infidelity divorced during this same time period. Considering well-documented adverse impacts of infidelity and divorce, the current findings may assist in identifying military couples at risk for infidelity and informing targeted prevention or early intervention strategies for these couples prior to or immediately following deployment.
Abstract Document
Attach