During repeated deployments, soldiers may experience a variety of psychological challenges that can impact their personal identities, including but not limited to their sense of self, their relationship with others, and their sense of belonging to their unit or community.
Some psychological mechanisms can help soldiers maintain their relational identity despite these challenges. One such mechanism is cognitive flexibility. Cognitive flexibility refers to the ability to adapt one's thinking patterns to new situations and contexts, which can be especially helpful for soldiers who are constantly facing changing environments and circumstances. By being able to think creatively and adaptably about their relationships, soldiers can better navigate changes in their interactions and communication with loved ones back home.
Another mechanism is emotional regulation. Soldiers who are able to effectively manage their emotions, both positive and negative, are more likely to maintain healthy and meaningful relationships during deployments. This includes recognizing and expressing feelings appropriately, as well as coping with stress and anxiety in productive ways. Emotional regulation can also involve seeking support from family members, friends, or colleagues, which can help maintain closeness even when physical distance may make it difficult.
A third mechanism is empathy. Empathy allows individuals to understand and share the emotions of others, which can foster deeper connections and understanding in relationships. For soldiers, empathy can help them connect with their families and communities back home, even when they are physically separated. It can also help them identify and address the needs and concerns of their loved ones, promoting greater intimacy and trust.
In addition to these mechanisms, social support networks can play a critical role in helping soldiers maintain their relational identities during repeated deployments. Building strong relationships within the military community can provide a sense of belonging and connection that transcends physical separation. Similarly, keeping in touch with family and friends through letters, phone calls, video chats, or other forms of communication can help sustain bonds despite physical distance.
Maintaining a healthy relational identity during repeated deployments requires ongoing effort and attention to psychological well-being. By cultivating cognitive flexibility, emotional regulation, empathy, and social support, soldiers can navigate the unique challenges of deployment while remaining connected to those who matter most to them.
What psychological mechanisms help maintain relational identity during repeated deployments?
Research on deployed military personnel has demonstrated that relational identity plays an important role in maintaining well-being, mental health, resilience, and effective functioning of individuals throughout their deployment. Relational identity is a sense of self that emerges from interactions with others, as well as how one perceives oneself within these relationships (Cohen et al. , 2017).