Couples who are in military service often face challenges that can affect their relationship, including frequent deployments, training rotations, and time apart due to work or family obligations. These situations can lead to feelings of loneliness, stress, and anxiety for both partners.
Some couples manage to stay emotionally close despite these difficulties. Psychologists have identified several mechanisms that help them maintain emotional closeness even when they are physically apart.
One way couples can maintain emotional closeness is through regular communication. Military couples may be separated for long periods of time, but technology allows them to stay in touch through phone calls, text messages, video chats, and social media. This helps them feel connected and less alone during deployments or training sessions. They also communicate about their fears, concerns, and desires while they are apart, which helps strengthen their bond.
Another mechanism that helps military couples maintain emotional closeness is sharing experiences. When one partner returns from deployment or training, they can share stories, photos, and videos that provide a sense of intimacy and connection. Sharing experiences can create shared memories and a feeling of togetherness, even if they are not together physically.
Military couples can also maintain emotional closeness by practicing rituals and traditions.
They might exchange letters every week, listen to music together before going to bed, or spend time on hobbies or activities together. These routines provide a sense of comfort and familiarity that can help bridge the distance between them.
Military couples can maintain emotional closeness by showing gratitude and appreciation for each other. Even simple gestures like leaving a note or sending a message can make a big difference in keeping the relationship strong. Showing affection and gratitude helps build trust and connection, even when they cannot be together.
Military couples face unique challenges that can threaten their emotional closeness, but several mechanisms can help them overcome these difficulties. Regular communication, sharing experiences, practicing rituals and traditions, and expressing gratitude and appreciation are all ways that couples can stay emotionally close despite being separated by deployments or training rotations.
Which psychological mechanisms allow couples to maintain emotional closeness despite repeated deployments or training rotations?
One of the key ways for military families to remain emotionally close despite deployments or training rotations is by utilizing technology such as video chat or text messaging. This allows both parties to feel connected even when they are physically apart, reducing feelings of isolation and loneliness. Additionally, it can help to set expectations before deployment or training begins, discussing how often communication will occur and what topics will be covered during these interactions.