Publication year
2010
Citation Title
Stressful experiences, coping strategies, and predictors of health-related outcomes among wives of deployed military servicemen.
Journal Name
Armed Forces & Society
Journal Volume
36
Issue Number
2
Page Numbers
351-373
DOI
10.1177/0095327x08324765
Summary
Interviews and survey data were used to identify common stressors experienced by military wives and explore whether problem-focused coping strategies (e.g., acceptance, planning, active coping, religion, and using emotional support) or emotion-focused coping strategies (e.g., self-distraction, venting, humor, self-blame, and denial) were better at reducing distress and reduced physical symptoms. Wives perceived control over these stressors were also examined. Problem-focused coping strategies were more successful at reducing distress and physical health symptoms, regardless of wives perceived control over the stressor.
Key Findings
Qualitative analysis revealed that 85% of spouses identified various deployment-related issues as the most difficult of the military-related stressors they experienced in the past five years.
Military spouses used more problem-focused coping, compared to emotion-focused coping.
Using more emotion-focused coping predicted experiencing more physical symptoms, regardless of whether spouses felt they had control over the situation or not. Problem-focused coping was somewhat protective against physical symptoms, but only when spouses perceived little control. In contrast, when spouses perceived high control, problem-focused coping was associated fewer depressive symptoms.
Implications for Program Leaders
Educate military couples about appropriate coping strategies to specifically deal with the competing demands of military and family life
Provide workshops to military spouses learn about the available resources supportive services to handle increased household responsibilities during deployment
Publicize information regarding common stressors military spouses experience during deployment and strategies to cope with these stressors
Implications for Policy Makers
Continue to support programs that increase family readiness
Recommend assessing military spouses health and well-being throughout deployment and offer services to those in need
Encourage the training of professionals regarding coping strategies used by military spouses and ways to support more problem-focused strategies
Methods
A mixed-methods approach was used with a convenience sample of spouses who completed a survey.
This article is focused on military spouses of Active Duty Army Service members who were currently deployed.
Participants were recruited from the Army's Fourth Infantry Division at Fort Hood during a Spouse Appreciation Day event.
Participants
Seventy-seven military wives participated in the current study.
Eighty percent of participants were White and the average age was 33 years.
Participants had been married for a mean of 8.5 years, and had an average of two children.
Limitations
Participants were all voluntarily participating in a Family Readiness Group (FRG) event and may differ significantly from spouses of Service members from other branches, and with those who choose not to participate in FRG events.
Participants may have been influenced to provide socially desirable information by the nature of the study methodology thereby biasing results.
Measurement issues included inadequate measurement of perceived controllability and issues recognized by other researchers with the Brief COPE scale; therefore, results should be interpreted with caution.
Avenues for Future Research
Replicate the current study with a more representative sample using multiple informants
Explore different coping strategies used by military children and adolescents who are affected by military deployment and other military issues such as relocation
Investigate whether male spouses of deployed Service members utilize different coping strategies
Focus
Army
Population Focus
Military Branch
Military Component
Abstract
A survey of military wives (N = 77) identifies their most stressful experiences, self-appraised control over these stressors, and coping strategies used. The authors examine two competing hypotheses: the goodness-of-fit hypothesis that the effects of problem-focused coping (PFC) and emotion-focused coping (EFC) strategies on distress are moderated by the appraised controllability of the stressor, and the main-effects hypothesis that PFC strategies are more effective than EFC strategies in reducing distress regardless of appraisal of controllability. Wives identified deployment of soldiers as their most stressful experience, and reported using PFC strategies more frequently than EFC strategies. EFC strategies were predictive of greater physical symptoms of illness, while PFC strategies were related to reduced physical symptoms of illness only when military wives’ perceived control of the situation was low. PFC strategies and controllability were significantly related to decreased depressive symptoms; EFC was marginally related to increased depressive symptoms, lending greater support to the main-effects hypothesis.
Abstract Document
PRTW Document
Attach