Publication year
2011
Citation Title
Topic avoidance, everyday talk, and stress in romantic military and non-military couples.
Journal Name
Communication Studies
Journal Volume
62
Issue Number
3
Page Numbers
241-257
DOI
10.1080/10510974.2011.553982
Summary
Partners of civilian and military members participated in a survey to understand communication difference among military and civilian couples. Overall, there were no differences in topic avoidance (intentionally directing conversation away from certain topics), everyday talk (ordinary conversation such as making plans), or well-being between the two types of couples.
Key Findings
The two types of couples (military and civilian) avoided similar topics including the current state of the relationship and moving the relationship forward (e.g., marriage, cohabitation). However, civilian couples more frequently avoided discussions about the status of the relationship, marriage, and cohabitation than military couples.
There was no difference in frequency of everyday talk between military and non-military couples, but partners of military members reported that everyday talk was more important than those with non-military partners.
Engaging in everyday talk and decreasing topic avoidance significantly contributed to reducing stress in both types of relationships, but especially for military couples.
Partners in both military and non-military couples reported equal levels of emotional stress.
Implications for Program Leaders
Offer workshops for military couples that enhance positive communication skills such as addressing issues directly and how to talk about sensitive issues
Provide childcare for military couples to offer additional opportunities to spend time together as a couple and engage in more everyday talk
Disseminate information regarding effective communication skills in couples and ways to improve these skills
Implications for Policy Makers
Continue to support programs aimed at strengthening the romantic relationships of military couples
Continue to support childcare services for military couples, including both during the regular daytime and on weekends
Recommend training for professionals working with military couples about common communication issues
Methods
The research team sent messages to their own social networks via Facebook and to Facebook groups developed for military partners with a link to an online survey.
The non-military sample was recruited through students in a large lecture course at a mid-Atlantic University.
Military participants completed an online survey and non-military participants did a paper and pencil survey; both completed measures of topic avoidance, everyday talk, and stress.
Participants
One hundred eighteen military (96% female) and 94 non-military (63% female) participants.
Military participant had an average age of 28.01 years (SD = 7.71 years) and an average relationship length of 6.01 years (SD = 5.07 years); data regarding race were not provided.
Service members had been deployed an average of 2.0 times (SD = 2.92), 43% of partners were in the Army, 15% Air Force, 14% Navy, 11% National Guard, 11% Marine Corps, and 4% Reserves.
Non-military participant were 29.63 years (SD = 8.88 years) old on average, and had been in their relationships for an average of 4.53 years (SD = 7.85 years); data regarding race were not provided.
Limitations
Military couples may avoid additional topics that were not assessed here, such as deployment or safety related concerns.
The sample was derived from snowball techniques; results may be biased.
All measures were self-reported from one partner’s perspective and therefore may not reflect the dynamic nature of the relationship.
Avenues for Future Research
Replicate this study with a more dyadic sample (e.g., male and female spouses, racially diverse)
Assess how relationship education programs impact these variables as well as broader relationship functioning and satisfaction
Explore whether military couple avoid topics that are unique to the military context (e.g., deployment)
Focus
Multiple Branches
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Branch
Military Component
Abstract
Relationships are increasingly impacted by military involvement, necessitating a deeper understanding of communication within these couples. This study examined perceptions of everyday talk, topic avoidance, and stress of participants romantically involved with (a) a military partner (n=118) or (b) a non-military partner (n=94). Couple types avoided similar topics, but non-military partners avoided these topics more frequently than military partners. Both couple types engaged in everyday talk, but military partners found this communicative exchange to be more important. Non-military partners experienced greater stress than military partners, and communication was predictive of the stress experienced. The results of this study highlight similarities and differences in romantic couples and reveal areas in which relationship education can address these communicative nuances of military couples.
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