Publication year
2013
Citation Title
Survival-recovery effect: Military wives with soldier-husbands deployed to the Operation Iraqi Freedom conflict.
Journal Name
Journal of Psychological Issues in Organizational Culture
Journal Volume
4
Issue Number
1
Page Numbers
29-49
DOI
10.1002/jpoc.21088
Summary
Individual interviews were conducted with military wives to examine the effects of Iraq war deployment on military wives. Seven major themes emerged in the interviews that reflect common experiences of military wives during deployment, reflecting their anxiety, communication difficulties, and stress.
Key Findings
Finding a new normal and completing daily tasks was difficult for wives.
Wives experienced grief and loss during their separation, dealt with a variety of negative emotions, and expressed fear of the unknown and for the Service members safety.
Communication issues (e.g., time difference, restricted conversations) during deployment were a source of frustration and relationship strain.
Wives reported positives associated with deployment separation such as increased confidence in themselves, feelings of empowerment, and resilience.
Implications for Program Leaders
Offer classes for military wives during deployment, teaching skills for coping with the stressors of their husbands’ deployment
Provide workshops for couples prior to deployment, helping them create plans for communication and problem-solving during deployment
Offer support groups for military spouses during deployment
Implications for Policy Makers
Continue to offer programs and service to military spouses throughout the deployment cycle
Continue to support services that allow Service members to stay connected with their families throughout the deployment cycle
Recommend trainings for service providers working with military spouses regarding the common issues reported by spouses coping with deployment
Methods
Participants were recruited via a study advertisement posted on the Operation Homefront website. Interested wives called researchers to express their interests and necessary forms (including screening questions) were mailed to participants.
Participants had to be married (between 1-10 years) to an Active Duty Service members who had deployed to Iraq, between the ages of 21 and 35 years, and graduated high school.
The first 10 women who met inclusion criteria were recruited into the study.
One-on-one interviews ranged from 45-60 minutes and took place in the participant's home.
Participants
Participants included 10 military wives, age 25-33 years; one Marine and one Navy wife failed to complete follow-up procedures and were dropped from the study.
Participants were four Army wives, three Marine wives, and three Navy wives.
The majority of wives in the sample were married to enlisted Service members (n = 8).
Limitations
This was a small, unrepresentative sample that self-selected into the study; therefore, results may not be generalizable to all military wives.
Interviews and data analysis were completed by one researcher, which may bias the results.
Participants had to self-select to be in the study and may differ from wives who did not choose to participate (e.g., be functioning better), which could influence the results.
Avenues for Future Research
Explore the extent to which programs designed to improve spousal well-being during deployment translates into increased Service member retention
Examine the experience of female Service members and their non-deployed husbands
Investigate whether similar issues are faced by spouse of deployed Female Service members
Focus
Multiple Branches
Population Focus
Military Component
Abstract
Typical stressful emotions for wartime military wives have not changed since the Vietnam War. Given the catastrophic nature of the Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) war of the 21st century, growing concerns have emerged from the public regarding this population’s psychological and physical health. A qualitative phenomenological analysis explored an in-depth OIF deployment separation on eight military wives’ psychological, physical, and spiritual well-being with soldier-husbands’ indefi nite deployment. From the dominant thematic fi ndings emerged an overall experience for this population, named a “survivalrecovery effect.” Results strikingly mirrored previous empirical research that confi rmed the military wives have been unprepared to manage war-induced deployment separations. Implications suggested a critical need to develop intervention support services and programs aimed at addressing the unique wartime stressors for this population. Insights from these women have the potential to guide future military wives through a wartime crisis. Findings have wide benefi ts for the military wife population vital to soldier retention, segments of the military and civilian scientific communities, and the fi eld of psychology. Future recommendations and limitations are outlined.
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