The research question this study investigated was how deployment-induced stress affects the perception of long-term relational satisfaction for soldiers who have deployed to war zones. Deployment-induced stress is a psychological condition that occurs when individuals experience traumatic events such as combat, injuries, death, or witnessing horrors during military service. This study aimed to understand how these traumas can impact their perception of their current relationship status after returning home.
Deployment-induced stress has been studied extensively among veterans due to its prevalence and severity among soldiers returning from war zones. Studies have shown that deployment-induced stress can lead to various mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, and suicide ideation. These factors are correlated with decreased levels of marital satisfaction and increased rates of divorce, indicating a potential link between deployment-induced stress and relationships. This study sought to explore this link further and determine if there were other variables involved in this relationship.
To answer the question, the study used a mixed-methods approach combining qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten male veterans who had served in Iraq and Afghanistan and completed a survey about their deployments and current relationships. The survey included questions on personal background, deployment experiences, relationship history, and relationship quality.
Analysis of the qualitative and quantitative data showed that deployment-induced stress significantly affected soldiers' perception of long-term relational satisfaction. Participants reported feeling emotionally distant from their partners, struggling to connect with them sexually, and experiencing conflict over communication styles after returning from war zones. Deployment-induced stress was also linked to higher levels of distrust in their partner's commitment, leading to feelings of betrayal and mistrust. In addition, many participants felt guilty for having negative thoughts or feelings toward their partner during deployment, which contributed to difficulty reconnecting upon return home.
Some mitigating factors existed.
Longer periods spent at war tended to result in more significant changes in attitudes towards relationships than shorter deployments. Soldiers with children or pregnant partners were less likely to feel negatively impacted by deployment-induced stress than those without family responsibilities.
Greater support from peers or therapy helped mitigate the effects of deployment-induced stress on relationships, suggesting social support may play a role in reducing its negative effects.
This study confirms previous research that deployment-induced stress can negatively impact soldiers' perception of long-term relational satisfaction.
There are variables that can mitigate these effects, such as social support, length of deployment, and familial obligations. Future research should explore additional factors that may influence deployment-induced stress's impact on relationships and how they may be addressed to improve outcomes for veterans and their loved ones.
How does deployment-induced stress affect soldiers' perception of long-term relational satisfaction?
The following analysis will examine how deployment-induced stress impacts military personnel's viewpoints regarding their relationships' durability. Deployment can have various consequences on soldier mental health which may result in feelings of separation anxiety and guilt for those left behind and may strain relationships between partners and children. Research has shown that communication is one of the major sources of relationship problems among deployed troops due to the physical distance.