Military Spouses and the Challenges of Military Life

To summarize (Kaplow, Layne, Saltztman, Cozza & Pynoos, 2013, p. 322-340) this article looks at how grief through exposure to loss due to combat fights, loss of fellow unit members, or the loss of a service member can affect a service member or military family during deployment and reintegration phases. The article goes on to discuss some of the stresses that can increase due to deployments such as martial conflicts, abuse or neglect, and mental health problems stemming from both spouses or children. More military children function equally as well as their civilian counterparts, except during times of deployment where they experience more emotional and behavioral problems. The article looks at three key areas Separation distress characterized as missing the deceased. Existential/Identity Distress finding meaning or fulfillment, or taking on roles left by the deceased. Circumstance-Related Distress characterized as emotional pain brought on by how the deceased passed. The article furthermore looks into how the age of the military children plays into their separation distress. Followed by their existential/identity Distress may be disrupted by new

The authors concluded that the shorter that dwell time, the harder it is for military families to maintain a stable relationship. The authors also provided helpful information on family support and how stress factors can be reduced when military families come across deployment.

“Studies of OEF/OIF combat veterans have revealed that rates of PTSD are higher in deployed soldiers compared to non-deployed soldiers (Buchanan, C. et al., p.743).” Unfortunately, in some cases, military spouses are not fully aware of the symptoms for PTSD. Some feel powerless and unsure on what to do when symptoms begin damaging their relationship with their love one. Broadly speaking, military couples who are challenged with a deployment suffer more stress which may lead to PTSD when they do not know how to obtain support when needed, have lower income, and are not satisfied with the military and it's missions. Other factors that may dictate the degree of stress for military couples facing a deployment are income, education, and rank. Couples who have had prior military experience such as having military parents or serving a number of years preceding a deployment may adapt well to the demands of military life. Overall, relationship satisfaction may result if couples possess excellent communication and marital quality. Greater emphasis on military assistance has been to shown to reduce stress in couples, but spouses who perceive the military as being “less concerned” for them and their love one usually experience higher levels of stress. Also, unenthusiastic emotions toward the mission in the middle east can be related to greater stress in couples. “Negative attitudes toward the U.S. Missions in Iraq and Afghanistan were associated with more stress (Allen, E.

A report from the American Academy of Pediatrics found that children from military families have a higher risk of social, emotional and behavioral problems such as anxiety, depression and suicide ideation. Other reports have shown that military families also have a high rates of domestic violence, child abuse and spousal abuse. The immense strains and pressures of the military lifestyle create inconsistencies in the lives of military families that are often overlooked by those considering joining the military. Over the years the U.S government and other organizations have been doing ample research into family health in the military and effectively identifying and addressing critical issues that are faced by military families. Speaking from

The second article, “Military Community Integration and Its Effect on Well-Being and Retention”, Burrell, Durand & Fortado (2003) ask; does integration In the military community affect the spouses

These challenges could be the result of another finding in which the spouses of veterans diagnosed with PTSD reported seeing their significant other as a different person post-deployment compared to pre-deployment (Yambo, Johnson, Delaney, Hamilton, Miller, & York, 2016). An unshared experience, such as combat, can also lead to relationship disconnect. Those who struggle with PTSD have a significantly higher perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness than military personnel who have never been diagnosed with PTSD (Bryan, 2011). These emotions are consistent with Pease, Billera, and Gerard’s 2015 study, which found that many military personnel feel isolated, disconnected, misunderstood, and out of place upon returning to a family lifestyle and that marriage increases the difficulty in civilian life reintegration. In our opinion, a diagnosis of PTSD amplifies the challenges of relationship

As reported by Claire J. White, the author of International Review of Psychiatry journal, spousal deployment might be stressful and could lead into some psychological issues such as depression and anxiety. The anxiety is more than worrying about their husband condition in the middle of a combat, it’s also involving their uneasiness of being far from each other. As most of the deployment were not all due to a short period, it includes how the military spouse would likely to survive and continue the life without their husband at the side. These situations had all been depicted by Saslow in the Ten Letters, where Krissy and Doug were forced to split apart due to the deployment after 10 days they got married. This has put Krissy in a condition

Materials and methods included “a convenience sample of 130 participants from military installations in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States” All were female, age 18 and older with an active duty classification. The authors used a transactional system of analysis using a perceived stress scale, PSS-10. Further, a once only study interval, with no trials involved. Consequently, the authors sought a form survey and used a t-test in determination. The authors’ claimed construct validity was achieved by supporting material result with higher stress levels in deployed serviceman spouses (p < .001). Somatization also significantly higher in spouses of deployed

War has tremendous effects on the human mind and impacts all parties involved. Remnants of war can dramatically affect relationships with loved ones and create greater problems ranging from financial problems to psychological damage that has more profound effects on the family infrastructure and its operation. The notion of war produces pressures and strains on the family that is not experienced everyday in the routine family life. Family member who experience PTSD from their service in the military also places unforeseen weights and consequences for the family to carry. There are specific effects distinct to a parent, a spouse, and children when a loved one is serving their country. The relationships between a service men and these family members are transformed with the absence and their reintegration.

This research paper provides a theoretical perspective on the effects that military deployment has on marital relationships. The background section investigates the five different military branches, what stressors are involved for those in military relationships, and a brief history of what military relationships were like in the past. In the literature review, readers will explore research studies that have been conducted in the past five years that pertain to military couples. There are three themes that will be pointed out throughout the literature review; the psychological effects deployment has on

Deployment and integration are one the greatest challenges military families and children have to face on a daily basis. When a family member deploys or reintegrates within the entire family, it not only affects the service member but it affects the entire family. Deployment can often lead to families and children, experiencing a negative mental health outcomes and compromised wellbeing. Bello (2015) found that most families and children (80.5% required less than one month to adjust to the return of their deployed parent (Bello, 2015). Accordingly, the families and children are often quick to adjust to having their family member back in the home. Interestingly, discoveries are surprising in light of the fact that when contrasted to another family, the discoveries are definitely unique. Boberiene (2014) found that three out of every four families feel that reintegration after the first three months is the most stressful phase of a deployment (Boberiene, 2014). This is because the family experiences many emotions while the member is away.

Military families come in contact with many challenges that has the potential to cause couples to separate. These challenges including but not limited to: Frequent moves, numerous separations due to discharges, long work hours, and infidelity etc. With this being the situation, it is necessary for a couple entering a military lifestyle to be well equipped with the tools needed in order to engage in a solid and healthy relationship. Therefore a military couple is a prime example of how premarital counseling has the ability to help increase the longevity of marriage among couples who marry before reaching the age of 30.

But what many people don't realize is that there are many negatives to marrying someone in the military too. For example, in a month he leaves for Japan for two years. That is nearly seven thousand miles away. Although i'll be able to visit periodically and he can occasionally take leave, we know that being separated halfway across the globe will be difficult and we will not see each other face to face for months. We also have basically no control over where he goes and for how long, so this can cause a major toll on our marriage. Many people also ask if i'm planning on stopping my education to be with him. And although I have strongly considered it, we have both decided that me finishing my degree is important and he encourages me everyday to keep

One way to accomplish this is through answering research questions related to military family life, such as “How do multiple deployments, multiple moves and other military lifestyle factors affect the development of attachment in military children?” and “What is the long-term impact on military children who have experienced multiple deployments, relocations and other life-disrupting events associated with military life?” As America continues to send service members to the Middle East in the midst of the longest military conflict in its history, gaining an understanding of the long-term impact on this generation of military children is crucial to aid in the development of programs and resources with the hope of ameliorating the challenges they have encountered. Additionally, the answers to these research questions may assist in identifying protective and risk factors and increase positive outcomes for these children as they grow into

Separation is an unwanted feeling I never wanted to exhibit and didn’t know how I would embrace the impact of anxiety and stress. As a military spouse, we are all convinced we would never be able to get a good job with having to relocate. A lot of people when they hear military wives, they assume we are stay at home wives and moms who don't work while our husbands are protecting our country, but none of that is reality. We so happen to be an independent woman who have our own aspirations in life as well. The question we get so much from people is why do you even work, why are you going to school? You don’t need to, you can live off his income. People seem to never understand us military wives are normal people as well and have goals