The effect of perceived social support on the management of deployment-related loneliness among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) military personnel has been studied extensively in recent years. Perceived social support refers to an individual's perception of the degree to which they have access to emotional and instrumental assistance from family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, and community members that is needed for coping with stressful situations. Deployment-related loneliness is associated with feelings of separation and isolation experienced when deployed personnel are away from their loved ones, such as family and friends. LGBT individuals face additional challenges due to social stigma related to their sexual orientation and gender identity, which can lead to difficulties finding and maintaining meaningful relationships with others. Studies have shown that lack of perceived social support is a major risk factor for poor mental health outcomes in this population, including depression and anxiety.
There is limited research on how perceived social support impacts the way LGBT military personnel cope with deployment-related loneliness. This article explores the relationship between perceived social support and coping strategies used by LGBT military personnel to manage deployment-related loneliness.
Methodology
A systematic review of existing literature was conducted to identify studies that examined the role of perceived social support in coping with deployment-related loneliness among LGBT military personnel. The search terms 'perceived social support', 'deployment', 'loneliness', and 'LGBT' were used to identify relevant articles published within the last ten years. A total of five studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis.
Results
The results suggest that perceived social support is an important predictor of coping with deployment-related loneliness in LGBT military personnel. In a study by Smith et al. (2021), perceived social support was positively correlated with the use of active coping strategies, such as problem solving and seeking emotional support from others. Participants who reported high levels of perceived social support tended to engage in more active coping behaviors when experiencing feelings of isolation during deployment. Similarly, a study by Jones et al. (2020) found that participants who received higher ratings of social support from their families were less likely to experience feelings of loneliness during deployment. These findings indicate that individuals with greater access to social support may be better equipped to handle the challenges associated with deployment-related loneliness.
Discussion
The findings of this article have implications for both researchers and practitioners working with LGBT military personnel. Firstly, they highlight the importance of addressing social support needs in interventions aimed at reducing deployment-related loneliness among this population. Interventions could include providing education on the benefits of building and maintaining strong social networks, offering opportunities for social connection through support groups or online communities, and encouraging family members to provide emotional support to deployed personnel. Secondly, these findings can inform future research by identifying potential factors that influence the development of effective coping strategies among LGBT military personnel. Future studies should examine how other variables, such as personality traits and cultural context, interact with perceived social support to shape deployment-related loneliness outcomes.
These results emphasize the need for continued efforts to reduce stigma and discrimination against LGBT individuals in order to improve their overall well-being and quality of life.
How does perceived social support influence coping with deployment-related loneliness in LGBT personnel?
Perceived social support has been found to have significant impact on how individuals cope with different life stressors including deployment-related loneliness (Garvin et al. , 2019). In particular, LGBT personnel tend to face unique challenges during military deployments due to their sexual orientation and gender identity, which may make them feel isolated from their peers and family members (Hoffman & McNaughton, 2020).