Publication year
2014
Citation Title
Intimate partner communication from the war zone: A prospective study of relationship functioning, communication frequency, and combat effectiveness.
Journal Name
Journal of Marital and Family Therapy
Journal Volume
40
Issue Number
3
Page Numbers
332–343
DOI
10.1111/jmft.12043
Summary
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.
Key Findings
Higher levels of relationship distress pre-deployment and increases in relationship distress during deployment were associated with lower frequency of communication during deployment.
More relationship distress and higher levels of depression were related to lower self-rated duty performance among the deployed Airmen.
Relationship distress increased significantly during deployment for many Service members (34%), but decreased for others (14%).
Implications for Program Leaders
Help couples in the pre-deployment phase to create a reasonable plan for communication during deployment
Provide workshops aimed at enhancing relationship quality and communication skills in order to help couples navigate the various stressors and demands throughout the deployment cycle
Host support groups for spouses of Service members during deployment so that spouses who have been through the deployment cycle can help those for whom it is a new experience
Implications for Policy Makers
Continue to support the development of programs that aim to increase Service members’ relationship quality
Encourage training for professionals who work with military families about stressors that may come with different phases of the deployment cycle so that they can best support families during those times
Recommend Service members have as much access as possible to various methods of communication with their families during deployment
Methods
Participants were part of two detachments of Airmen who were deployed to Iraq.
Airmen were surveyed at three time points in the deployment cycle: pre-deployment, in-theater, and post-deployment. These surveys included questions about relationship functioning, depression, communication with romantic partners, and the impact of relationship concerns on duty performance.
Data were analyzed to determine the association between relationship functioning and frequency of communication as well as the association between relationship functioning and depression and their combined influence on Service members’ perceptions of their own duty performance.
Participants
Participants were 144 Airmen in significant romantic relationships.
Of the Airmen, the majority (89%) were male with an average age of 26.8 years (SD = 6.3).
In the sample, 63% were White, 18% were Black, 8% were Latino, 6% were Asian American, 1% was Native American, and 4% were other races.
Limitations
All participants were part of two very similar deployments, therefore these results may not be generalizable to Service members experiencing different types of deployments.
This study relied upon self-reports of duty performance, which may not be an accurate measurement as problems in this area may have been under-reported.
The sample was limited to Airmen, so it is unknown whether similar associations exist for members of other military branches.
Avenues for Future Research
Explore factors that distinguish couples who experience an increase in relationship distress during deployment from those who experience decreased distress
Gather information from partners as well as Service members during the deployment cycle
Incorporate objective measures of duty performance
Focus
Air Force
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Branch
Military Component
Abstract
This study examined (a) the association between relationship functioning prior to and during deployment, and the frequency of communication during deployment; and (b) the association between relationship functioning and depression during deployment and their influence on Service members’ ratings of duty performance. Participants were 144 partnered Airmen assessed immediately before and during a one-year high-risk deployment to Iraq. Results showed an overall high frequency of partner communication during deployment. High relationship distress at predeployment predicted lower frequency of communication during deployment. Changes in relationship distress from before deployment to during deployment independently predicted frequency of communication, above and beyond predeployment distress levels. Level of relationship distress and depression during deployment independently predicted Service members’ ratings of impact on duty performance.
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