Relationships are an important part of life for everyone. They provide companionship, support, understanding, emotional security, and social connections.
Some people experience more difficulty forming meaningful relationships than others due to various factors such as personality traits, upbringing, past experiences, and current circumstances.
Deployed military personnel often face unique challenges when it comes to maintaining strong relationships with family members and friends back home. Deployment is associated with feelings of isolation and loneliness which can negatively impact mental health outcomes like depression and anxiety. Therefore, researchers have examined how relational satisfaction might buffer against these negative effects.
The main hypothesis is that individuals who report higher levels of relationship satisfaction would be less likely to feel isolated and lonely during deployment. This means that even if someone has difficulty connecting with others, having a satisfying relationship may still protect them from feeling alone. Research supports this idea. Studies have shown that positive marital quality is related to lower levels of perceived loneliness, and higher marital adjustment is linked to lower rates of psychological distress in deployed military couples. Another study found that having close friends reduces loneliness among soldiers serving away from their families.
There appears to be evidence that maintaining good relationships helps mitigate the negative effects of being apart from loved ones.
There are several possible explanations for why relational satisfaction is important for reducing isolation and loneliness during deployment. First, having a fulfilling relationship provides a sense of stability and connection that can help individuals cope with stressors associated with separation. Second, supportive partners can provide emotional support and practical assistance during times of need, helping to ease feelings of abandonment and disconnection. Third, shared activities such as video calls or letters can strengthen bonds between people even though they are physically distant. Fourth, spending time with family members and close friends can improve mood and reduce stress, making it easier to handle challenges while on duty.
Having a strong social network can make deployment seem more bearable by providing opportunities for socialization, camaraderie, and community.
There are also potential limitations to relying solely on relationships for buffering against negative emotions.
Some individuals may struggle to form meaningful connections due to personality traits like introversion or difficulty forming attachments.
Relationship problems or conflicts could exacerbate feelings of loneliness rather than alleviate them.
Certain situations (e.g., combat-related injuries) may require additional resources beyond those provided by partners/friends in order to address loneliness effectively. Nevertheless, research suggests that relational satisfaction is an important factor in mitigating isolation and loneliness among deployed personnel.
Maintaining good relationships can be crucial for reducing feelings of isolation and loneliness during deployment. While not everyone will have this option available, having a positive relationship dynamic appears to offer significant benefits for mental health outcomes. Future research should continue exploring how different types of relationships affect deployment experiences, including platonic friendships, coworker relations, and romantic partnerships.
How does relational satisfaction buffer against feelings of isolation and loneliness in deployed personnel?
Relational satisfaction has been found to be an important factor in mitigating feelings of isolation and loneliness among deployed personnel. A study conducted by XYZ (2017) revealed that those with higher levels of relational satisfaction reported fewer negative affective states such as sadness and depression compared to those with lower levels of relational satisfaction.