Publication year
2015
Citation Title
Coming home: A prospective study of family reintegration following deployment to a war zone
Journal Name
Psychological Services
Journal Volume
12
Issue Number
3
Page Numbers
213-221
DOI
10.1037/ser0000020
Summary
Seventy-six partnered Air Force Service members were evaluated to determine correlates of family reintegration challenges. Service members reported on relationship functioning, communication, mental health, and reintegration challenges. Results indicated that pre-deployment drinking and relationship difficulties predicted post-deployment reintegration challenges.
Key Findings
About half (56%) of Airmen reported moderate to severe difficulties in one aspect of post-deployment family reintegration, with 19% reporting difficulties in multiple aspects.
Pre- relationship distress, and pre-deployment alcohol use were positively associated with post-deployment family-reintegration difficulties.
Post-deployment relationship distress, alcohol use, depressive symptoms, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were also associated with post-deployment reintegration difficulties.
Protective factors included partner support, and willingness to disclose deployment and combat experiences.
Implications for Program Leaders
Provide peer support groups to Service members and their partners prior to deployment
Make educational materials available on the dangers of alcohol abuse both pre- and post-deployment
Offer supportive services to help children cope with the challenges of Service member reintegration
Implications for Policy Makers
Recommend pre-deployment screening for alcohol and other substance abuse
Encourage routine screening for PTSD and depressive symptoms that may hinder reintegration
Urge the development of activities that promote bonding and reconnection between Service members and their children following deployment
Methods
Data from Service members were collected pre-, during, and post-deployment.
Service members reported family reintegration difficulties, relationship distress, partner support, PTSD symptomology, depression, alcohol use, and combat exposure using validated survey instruments.
Using original survey instruments, Airmen also reported deployment preparation challenges, shared commitment to a military lifestyle, frequency of family communication while deployed, and willingness to disclose combat experiences.
Researchers used single and multiple regression to assess post-deployment integration and functioning.
Participants
The sample consisted of 76 USAF Service members deployed to Iraq for one year.
Service members who remained in the same relationship for the entire deployment cycle were retained for analysis.
The sample was largely White (60%) and male (92%), with some college education and a mean age of 28 years.
Most of the partners were married (76%), and the majority of couples had one or more children (63%).
Limitations
The data were limited to information provided by Service members, and was not validated by spouses.
The sample was comprised predominantly of White and male. Results may differ for women, or people of color.
The study analyzes reintegration experiences of Airmen with and without children, together. However, demands and roles are likely to be different based on parent status.
Avenues for Future Research
Examine how posttraumatic growth impacts reintegration experiences over a longer term
Evaluate the impact of physical injury (including Traumatic Brain Injury) in family reintegration
Explore the impact of family members’ mental health of Service members’ reintegration experiences
Focus
Air Force
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Branch
Military Component
Abstract
The consequences of deployment extend beyond the service member to impact the entire family. The current investigation evaluated the unique challenges of family reintegration for partnered service members using a prospective design. In total, 76 partnered service members who deployed on a year-long, high-risk mission to Iraq were assessed across the entirety of the deployment cycle, i.e., pre-, during, and postdeployment. At follow-up, nearly 1 in 5 partnered service members reported moderate to severe difficulties in multiple aspects of family reintegration. Prospective interpersonal indicators such as preparations for deployment as a couple, shared commitment to the military, and predeployment relationship distress predicted postdeployment family reintegration difficulties. Significant interpersonal risk factors were medium to large in their effect sizes. Airmen’s willingness to disclose deployment- and combat-related experiences, and postdeployment relationship distress served as concurrent interpersonal correlates of difficulties with family reintegration. Intrapersonal factors, including posttraumatic stress symptoms and alcohol misuse were concurrently related to challenges with family reintegration; predeployment alcohol misuse also predicted subsequent family reintegration difficulties. Additional analyses indicated that pre- and postdeployment relationship distress, combat disclosure, and postdeployment alcohol misuse each contributed to family reintegration when controlling for other intra- and interpersonal risk factors. Implications for prevention and early intervention strategies as well as future research are discussed.
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