Publication year
2008
Citation Title
Ambiguous absence, ambiguous presence: A qalitative study of military reserve families in wartime.
Journal Name
Journal of Family Psychology.
Journal Volume
22
Issue Number
2
Page Numbers
222-230
DOI
10.1037/0893-3200.22.2.222
Summary
Army Reservists and their family members were interviewed seven times over the first year of the Reservists’ return from Iraq. The authors examine families' experiences of three types of ambiguity: ambiguous absence (being physically absent but psychologically present), ambiguous presence (being physically present but psychologically absent), and boundary ambiguity (uncertainty of perceptions concerning family and roles and tasks within family).
Key Findings
Soldiers and their families reported that they had experienced ambiguous absence during deployment and faced issues such as adjusting to new roles and responsibilities and worrying about reunion experiences. These challenges may be particularly difficult for Reserve families, as they may be geographically distant from installations and/or military-provided resources.
Upon reunion, Soldiers and their families experienced ambiguous presence, along with difficulty resuming roles and responsibilities, shifting to more open and regular communication, and the transition from Soldier to civilian.
For most Soldiers and their families, boundary ambiguity dissipated around six weeks following the Reservist’s return to civilian employment, which helped to establish a routine for the family.
Implications for Program Leaders
Provide curriculum to help prepare families for challenges associated with both deployment and reintegration and teach them skills for coping with ambiguous absence and presence
Provide workshops aimed at improving reintegration experiences for Reservists that will help with the transition back into the civilian workplace, which is likely an important stabilizing factor for families
Offer classes that can help families who may be experiencing boundary ambiguity by giving them skills to communicate clearly about family roles, responsibilities, relationships, and routines
Implications for Policy Makers
Continue to support programs and services that help Reservists reintegrate into their civilian occupations after returning from deployment
Promote collaboration among providers and professionals who work with military families to support post-deployment transitions for Reservists and their families
Recommend training for professionals who work with military families regarding the unique experience of Service members in the Reserve Component
Methods
Seven interviews were conducted with Service members and families (spouses or parents). These individuals were recruited through a variety of strategies.
Participants were asked questions about stressors, coping mechanisms, familial relationships, friendships, and social support.
Interviews were analyzed using a qualitative thematic review.
Participants
Participation initially consisted of 16 Service members and 18 family members (12 spouses, 6 parents). Of those who participated in all seven interviews, six were Service members and seven were family members.
Service members were 29 years old on average (SD = 8.7), and the majority were White (87%) and male (87%).
Family members were 38 years old on average (SD = 12.5), and most were White (89%) and female (89%).
Limitations
Family member participants were spouses of married Reservists and parents of unmarried Reservists. These two sets of family members may have experienced very different deployment and reintegration experiences.
Those who participated in the study across all seven interviews (n = 13) may differ from those who dropped out (n = 21) in ways not measured in the study, but that still affected the outcome variables. For example, of those who participated in only a portion of the interviews, several reported adjustment and relationship problems.
The small sample size and limited racial/ethnic diversity limits the generalizability of the findings to a wider military population.
Avenues for Future Research
Conduct a longitudinal analysis with families over the course of a deployment cycle to collect data regarding experiences of ambiguity in real time
Investigate reintegration experiences among a larger and more divers group of Reservists
Explore the role of relationship and family quality in the post-deployment reintegration of Service members
Focus
Army
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Branch
Military Component
Abstract
The “Global War on Terrorism” has resulted in reservists being deployed at an ever increasing rate. However, because reservists and their families are unaccustomed to deployments, many families may experience boundary ambiguity, a state in which family members are uncertain in their perception about who is in or out of the family and who is performing which roles and tasks within the family. This qualitative description study examined boundary ambiguity in military reserve families over time. A sample of 34 reservists, spouses, and parents were interviewed seven times within the first year of the reservists’ return from Iraq. During deployment, all family members experienced boundary ambiguity. Gathering information and attending a family support group provided some relief for families. After the reservists returned, couples, as well as those who had experienced additional life events or losses, experienced the highest levels of boundary ambiguity. However, this boundary ambiguity dissipated over time, as families tended to re-stabilize once the reservists had returned to work and a routine had been established.
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