Relationships between individuals who have experienced traumatic events can be particularly vulnerable to negative consequences due to the impact that such experiences may have on the individuals' mental health, emotional regulation, and interpersonal interactions. This is especially true for same-sex military couples, who often face unique challenges related to their identities and roles within the military community.
Research suggests that engaging in relational rituals such as shared activities, communication, and intimate moments can help buffer the effects of trauma and chronic stress on these relationships. This article will explore the ways in which relational rituals can protect same-sex military couples from the potential harmful effects of trauma and chronic stress, providing an important understanding of how these relationships can be strengthened and preserved despite adversity.
Relational Rituals:
Relational rituals refer to specific actions or practices that partners engage in regularly to maintain connection, closeness, and support in their relationship. These rituals can take many forms, including sharing daily routines, regular check-ins, and special occasions like anniversaries or holidays. According to psychologist David Schnarch, relational rituals play a critical role in fostering trust, safety, and security in romantic relationships by establishing predictability, structure, and positive associations with one another. When partners engage in consistent and meaningful relational rituals, they are more likely to feel secure and supported in their relationship, even during times of difficulty or stress.
Trauma and Chronic Stress:
Trauma refers to a range of events or experiences that induce significant distress, anxiety, and fear in those who experience them. Military service can expose individuals to a wide variety of potentially traumatic events, including combat exposure, physical injury, or witnessing violence and death. Chronic stress, meanwhile, is characterized by prolonged exposure to high levels of stressors over time, often leading to physical and mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. Both trauma and chronic stress have been linked to negative outcomes for same-sex military couples, including reduced relationship satisfaction, communication difficulties, and increased conflict.
Buffering the Impacts of Trauma and Chronic Stress:
Research suggests that relational rituals can help buffer the impacts of both trauma and chronic stress on same-sex military relationships.
Shared activities such as going to the gym together, cooking meals, or engaging in leisure pursuits can provide partners with opportunities to connect and support each other, promoting feelings of closeness and intimacy. Regular communication about daily life events, goals, and dreams can also help partners stay connected and build trust, reducing the likelihood of misunderstandings or miscommunications. Special occasions like anniversaries, holidays, or birthdays offer additional opportunities for celebration, gratitude, and appreciation, reinforcing positive aspects of the relationship and strengthening emotional bonds. By engaging in these types of relational rituals consistently, couples can create a sense of stability and predictability in their relationship, even during times of adversity.
Relational rituals play an important role in helping same-sex military couples navigate trauma and chronic stress, providing a source of comfort, support, and connection when they may be feeling most vulnerable. By engaging in consistent and meaningful rituals, partners can create a strong foundation for their relationship, fostering mutual understanding, compassion, and resilience. While the challenges faced by same-sex military couples are significant, this research offers hope that such couples can thrive despite adversity through intentional effort and attention to their relationship.
How do relational rituals buffer the impact of trauma and chronic stress on same-sex military relationships?
Relational rituals are a vital tool for building intimacy, trust, and resilience within military couples who have experienced trauma or chronic stress. Research has shown that these rituals can serve as protective factors against negative effects of traumatic experiences, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and relationship dissatisfaction.