When it comes to military life, being away from home for extended periods of time is common. This means that members of the military are often deployed for months or years at a time, which can put a strain on their relationships with loved ones back home.
Some military spouses may find themselves facing even greater challenges than just distance due to the exposure to morally ambiguous situations during missions. In this essay, I will explore how exposure to these types of situations impacts relational trust, sexual decision-making, and emotional vulnerability in military couples.
Relationships between military personnel and their partners face unique challenges compared to civilian relationships.
They experience more frequent separations due to deployments and training exercises.
There's increased risk for moral injury when serving in combat zones where war crimes may occur. Moral injuries refer to psychological damage caused by violating one's personal code of ethics while engaging in warfare activities. When individuals are exposed to such experiences repeatedly, it could lead to dissociative symptoms like numbness or detachment from others, feelings of guilt or shame, anxiety or anger outbursts, substance abuse issues, or suicidal thoughts (Bloch et al., 2016). As a result, this exposure has been linked with decreased marital satisfaction among active duty service members (ADSM) (Lewis & Rider, 2018).
Studies have shown that ADSM who were involved in morally ambiguous situations reported lower levels of relational trust compared to those who did not participate (Schueller et al., 2017). This is because they may feel guilty about engaging in questionable behaviors or have difficulty discussing them with their partner without feeling judged. They may also struggle to communicate openly about other aspects of their deployment experiences or lack confidence in expressing themselves honestly due to fear of repercussions from supervisors or peers (Driscoll et al., 2019). These factors can create distance between partners, making intimacy difficult even when reunited physically after being apart for extended periods.
Sexual decision-making presents another challenge for military couples dealing with moral ambiguity during deployments. Individuals may be exposed to sexual trauma victims on the battlefield which can lead them to question their beliefs and values surrounding sex (Lynn et al., 2015).
Some spouses may engage in extramarital affairs while deployed or experience changes in attraction towards others as a way to cope with loneliness and stress (Chandler et al., 2017). All these issues could negatively impact trust within relationships and make it harder for couples to connect emotionally upon returning home (Woodruff et al., 2016).
To combat this issue, therapists recommend active communication between partners regarding any concerns related to morality during deployments (Woodruff et al., 2016). This includes discussing expectations around fidelity beforehand and agreeing on how each person will handle temptation if faced with it.
Seeking professional help is encouraged to address underlying mental health conditions like PTSD that may contribute to increased risk-taking behavior (Schueller et al., 2017).
Given the unique nature of military service, it's essential for family members to understand that not all decisions made by their loved ones during deployments are wrong or immoral - but rather necessary acts taken under extreme circumstances (Bloch et al., 2016).
Exposure to morally ambiguous situations during missions presents significant challenges for military couples when it comes to relational trust, sexual decision-making, and emotional vulnerability. While some may choose not to open up about their experiences out of fear or shame, doing so can provide much-needed relief from isolation by allowing partners to better understand one another's perspectives and feelings. With proper communication and support structures in place, military spouses can work towards building stronger bonds despite such difficulties faced while serving their country abroad.
How does exposure to morally ambiguous situations during missions impact relational trust, sexual decision-making, and emotional vulnerability in military couples?
Exposure to morally ambiguous situations during missions can have a significant impact on relational trust, sexual decision-making, and emotional vulnerability in military couples. This is because these experiences often involve witnessing or participating in violent acts, moral dilemmas, and traumatic events that can challenge their values, beliefs, and perceptions of themselves and others.