Publication year
2007
Citation Title
The impact of individual trauma symptoms of deployed soldiers on relationship satisfaction.
Journal Name
Journal of Family Psychology
Journal Volume
21
Issue Number
3
Page Numbers
344-353
DOI
10.1037/0893-3200.21.3.344
Summary
Male Soldiers and their wives/partners completed self-report questionnaires shortly after the Soldier’s return from an Iraq or Afghanistan deployment. This study explored the relationship between combat-related traumatic stress and relationship satisfaction. Findings indicate that Soldiers’ exposure to traumatic experiences has a negative impact on relationship satisfaction.
Key Findings
Soldiers with high levels of trauma exposure reported lower relationship satisfaction than peers with less trauma experience.
Spouses of Soldiers who had experienced high levels of trauma also reported lower relationship satisfaction.
Soldiers’ sleep disturbances and sexual problems predicted 29% of the variance in Soldiers’ relationship satisfaction.
Implications for Program Leaders
Provide reintegration workshops for military couples that include information regarding the possible implications of combat-related stress and trauma on relationship satisfaction
Offer relationship enrichment workshops both before and after deployment to bolster couples’ connection and ability to manage the challenges associated with deployment
Publicize information regarding services available to Service members and their families throughout the deployment cycle
Implications for Policy Makers
Continue to support reintegration programs as a means of strengthening military families following a deployment
Support family-based services that teach skills in communicating about deployment-related topics and enhancing intimacy after military-related separations
Recommend training for service providers working with military families regarding the common issues family face throughout the deployment cycles
Methods
In 2004 and 2005, couples were recruited from small Midwest cities close to Army posts.
Participants were recruited via public fliers; newspaper ads; and referrals from Army family readiness groups, chaplains, and other military sources, including previous research participants.
Couples had to have been in their relationship at least a year (average length = 5.31 years), deny any substance abuse, or history of domestic violence.
Participants
Forty-five couples completed questionnaires; couples consisted of male Soldiers recently returned from an Iraq or Afghanistan deployment (average deployment length was 10.0 months) and their female spouses/partners.
Soldier’s average age was 31.18 years (SD = 6.90), and spouse’s average age was 29.36 (SD = 6.27).
The majority of spouses (78%) and Soldiers (82%) were White.
Soldiers were predominantly enlisted (69%), followed by commissioned officer (27%), and warrant officers (4%).
Limitations
The sample size was small and largely homogeneous, making generalizability of findings uncertain.
The self-report nature of the questionnaires allows the possibility of a social desirability bias for Soldiers and their partners.
The average relationship length was five years; patterns of associations may be different for families who have been in a committed relationship for a longer period of time.
Avenues for Future Research
Elucidate the associations between sleep disturbance, sexual problems and relationship satisfaction
Include questions about a wider range of stressful traumatic events in addition to those directly related to combat exposure
Explore if similar results are found among couples were the Wives deployed and the male partner remained at home
Focus
Army
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Branch
Military Component
Abstract
Research traditionally has focused on the development of individual symptoms in those who experienced trauma directly but has overlooked the interpersonal impact of trauma. The current study reports data from 45 male Army soldiers who recently returned from a military deployment to Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom) or Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom) and their female spouses/partners. The results indicated that increased trauma symptoms, particularly sleep problems, dissociation, and severe sexual problems, in the soldiers significantly predicted lower marital/relationship satisfaction for both soldiers and their female partners. The results suggest that individual trauma symptoms negatively impact relationship satisfaction in military couples in which the husband has been exposed to war trauma.
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