Sexual Desire and Deployment
Deployments can have negative effects on sexual desire due to various factors such as stress, anxiety, trauma, and sleep deprivation. According to a study conducted on military personnel who had experienced multiple deployments, these soldiers reported decreased levels of sexual desire compared to those without deployment experience. This may result from decreased testosterone levels caused by exposure to combat stress hormones.
Deployments can lead to changes in social roles and disruptions in family dynamics, which affect sexual behavior. Soldiers may feel guilty about their lack of interest in sex while deployed and this guilt may persist after returning home. Repeated deployments can also cause PTSD, which impairs sexual functioning through intrusive thoughts and hyperarousal responses.
Relational Satisfaction and Deployment
Repeated deployments can negatively impact relational satisfaction by creating distance between partners, straining communication, and leading to resentment or infidelity. Military couples may struggle to maintain intimacy when apart for long periods, resulting in feelings of loneliness and frustration. Deployed service members may be less available emotionally, which can create tension and jealousy within relationships. Family life is also affected by frequent moves and disruption of routines, making it difficult to form stable bonds with other children or family members. In addition, deployments can trigger fears of abandonment, causing anxiety and mistrust in the relationship.
Attachment Security and Deployment
Deployments can threaten attachment security because they challenge our fundamental need for closeness and safety. Separations during deployments can activate our attachment system, increasing our need for reassurance and contact. The stress of being away from loved ones can make us feel more vulnerable and insecure, leading to increased attachment anxiety. This can result in avoidance behaviors such as withdrawing from close relationships or seeking comfort from others outside the primary attachment.
Repeated deployments can increase feelings of abandonment and betrayal, damaging trust and commitment.
What are the long-term psychological consequences of repeated deployments on sexual desire, relational satisfaction, and attachment security?
Repeated deployments may cause soldiers to develop feelings of guilt, shame, anger, fear, anxiety, and depression over time. This can negatively impact their ability to form close relationships, both romantic and platonic, as they struggle with intimacy issues and difficulty trusting others.