Although often eagerly anticipated, reunification after deployment poses challenges for families, including adjusting to the parent–soldier’s return, re-establishing roles and routines, and the potentially necessary accommodation to combat-related injuries or psychological effects.
The parenting experiences of military fathers of young children, ages one to seven, during reintegration were examined. Fathers articulated both motivations to be a better parent, as well as challenges related to reintegrating into family life.
Frequency and quality of family deployment communication was assessed and examined in conjunction with emotions and behaviors reported by military children and spouses (N=26) before, during, and after deployment.
This study assessed the frequency and quality of communication between National Guard Soldiers, their female spouses (n = 13), and their children (n = 13) before, during, and after deployment.
There are a growing number of studies that have approximated levels of aggression and associated outcomes among combat veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan using brief screening assessments.
The stress that accompanies Service member deployment may influence Service members' personal relationships following deployment. The relationship between combat exposure and the perpetration of aggression was examined among 6,128 Service members in the U.S. Army.
Objective: To describe returning veterans’ transition experience from military to civilian life and to educate health care providers about culture-centered communication that promotes readjustment to civilian life.
Reintegration can be a difficult process for Service members, including lots of different changes and adjustments. The experience of readjustment to civilian life after military deployment was examined among 31 OEF/OIF Veterans via semi-structured interviews.
Veterans from the conflicts in Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom; OEF) and Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom; OIF) have reported elevated rates of alcohol consumption, and greater depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms are associated with increased alcohol use.
There were 325 OEF/OIF Veterans who completed questionnaires designed to examine whether presence of a spouse or partner buffers the relationship between mental health symptoms and alcohol consumption.