The concept of operational stress refers to the physical and mental strain experienced by individuals who are engaged in combat situations or emergency response activities. It is characterized by feelings of exhaustion, anxiety, depression, fear, anger, guilt, disgust, despair, and hopelessness. These symptoms can be caused by prolonged exposure to traumatic events such as death, injury, destruction, violence, loss, and grief. Operational stress can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is an ongoing condition that affects an individual's ability to function normally in daily life. PTSD symptoms include re-experiencing traumatic events through intrusive memories, nightmares, and flashbacks; avoidance of triggers; negative changes in mood and cognitions; and hyperarousal, including irritability, insomnia, and hypervigilance.
Moral injury is a term used to describe the emotional distress associated with violating one's moral beliefs, values, or standards during military operations. This can occur when soldiers witness or participate in acts that go against their personal code of conduct, such as killing innocent civilians or breaking rules of engagement. Moral injury may cause feelings of guilt, shame, betrayal, and powerlessness. It can also lead to psychological conditions like PTSD and suicidality.
Sexual satisfaction is a measure of how well a person fulfills his/her sexual desires and needs within a relationship. It includes physical pleasure, intimacy, closeness, trust, communication, and mutual respect. Sexual dissatisfaction can result from various factors such as lack of interest, poor performance, mismatched expectations, infidelity, and abuse. Military partnerships are especially vulnerable to sexual problems due to extended deployments, frequent moves, and limited social support.
Research has shown that operational stress, moral injury, and sexual satisfaction are interrelated concepts that influence each other in complex ways.
Operational stress can reduce a soldier's motivation for sex and increase feelings of guilt and shame about sexual activities. This can lead to reduced sexual satisfaction within the relationship. Similarly, moral injury can create feelings of guilt and shame around sex, which can further decrease sexual desire and satisfaction.
Some researchers argue that high levels of operational stress and moral injury may actually improve sexual functioning by enhancing arousal and increasing sensitivity to touch.
The psychological processes mediating these relationships are not fully understood, but several theories have been proposed. One theory suggests that operational stress and moral injury activate the sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight response), which reduces sexual desire and functioning. Another theory proposes that operational stress and moral injury disrupt the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA), leading to lower testosterone levels and diminished sexual drive. Still, another theory posits that trauma-induced changes in brain chemistry, particularly decreased dopamine activity, contribute to reduced sexual satisfaction.
Operational stress, moral injury, and sexual satisfaction are intricately connected concepts with significant implications for military couples. Further research is needed to better understand their relationships and develop effective interventions to promote healthy and fulfilling sexuality among veterans and their partners.
What psychological processes mediate the relationship between operational stress, moral injury, and sexual satisfaction within military partnerships?
Research has shown that operational stress can negatively impact both physical and mental health of military personnel, leading to reduced intimacy and sexual satisfaction within their relationships. Moral injury is an emerging concept in military psychology that refers to the feeling of betrayal and violation when military members witness or engage in acts that go against their personal values or ethics (Bryant & Bryant, 2016).