The relationship between deployment-related stress and sexual communication patterns is an important subject for research because it can have major impacts on both individuals' wellbeing and their relationships. Deployment is a temporary separation from home during military service that often involves significant physical, emotional, psychological, financial, social, and relational challenges. In fact, there are many reasons why couples might experience difficulties with sex while one partner is deployed.
They may feel isolated from each other due to distance, lack of communication, changes in daily routines, changes in roles, and limited access to resources. They may also face additional stressors such as fear, anxiety, depression, anger, guilt, grief, and loneliness. These factors can lead to decreased levels of intimacy and satisfaction, which could manifest in different ways depending on individual characteristics like gender, age, culture, background, and personality.
Some studies suggest that certain strategies or techniques can help couples maintain healthy sexual communication despite the challenges posed by deployment-related stress. Here are four types of sexual communication patterns that can be affected by deployment:
1. Frequency of communication about sex. Some couples find themselves talking more openly about sex when one partner is away than before deployment. This can include initiating conversations about fantasies, needs, desires, preferences, past experiences, future plans, etc., which helps them stay connected emotionally even though physically apart.
2. Type of communication about sex. Couples may use different forms of communication to discuss sexual issues, including phone calls, emails, text messages, video chats, letters, postcards, and even handwritten notes. This allows them to share their thoughts, feelings, and intentions without being limited by time constraints or distractions.
3. Quality of communication about sex. Deployment-related stress can cause couples to focus too much on practical matters (e.g., military tasks) at the expense of emotional ones (e.g., relationship quality). As a result, they might not pay enough attention to each other's needs or concerns regarding sex. It may also lead to misunderstandings due to misinterpretation or lack of clarity.
4. Context of communication about sex. Deployment-related stress can change the context within which couples communicate about sex.
They may need to adapt to new technologies or schedules for communication or negotiate time differences between shifts and days off.
There is still plenty of room for further research into how deployment-related stress shapes sexual communication patterns in couples. Future studies should examine factors like duration of separation, type of deployment (peacekeeping vs combat), culture, gender roles, socioeconomic status, family support systems, prior experience with deployments, coping strategies, personality traits, and interpersonal dynamics. They should also assess whether certain types of sexual communication are more beneficial than others under these conditions. Such insights could help develop evidence-based interventions that promote healthy sexual communication among deployed partners.
How does deployment-related stress shape sexual communication patterns in couples?
Sexual communication is a complex issue for many couples, especially those that have experienced deployment separation. Deployment can cause significant stress, including anxiety, depression, fear, loneliness, and feelings of isolation. These factors can significantly impact sexual communication patterns between partners, as they may feel disconnected from each other emotionally and physically during this time.