The purpose of this study was to examine how perceived emotional support from one's partner may act as a buffer against the negative effects of military deployment stress on relational satisfaction among married couples. Previous research has shown that deployment can put a strain on marital relationships due to increased communication challenges, changes in roles and responsibilities, and heightened anxiety about the safety and well-being of deployed partners.
It is also recognized that strong social support networks, including emotional support from loved ones, can help mitigate these stresses and improve relationship outcomes. The current study aimed to test whether perceived emotional support moderates the relationship between deployment stress and relational satisfaction using data from a sample of 200 married couples who had experienced recent deployment.
Method: Participants completed self-report measures of deployment stress, perceived emotional support from their spouse, and relational satisfaction before and after deployment. Deployment stress was measured using a scale developed by the researchers, which included items assessing perceptions of spousal understanding, financial concerns, role changes, and fear for safety during deployment. Perceived emotional support was assessed with a modified version of the Marriage Process Questionnaire (MPQ), which includes subscales measuring emotional closeness, instrumental support, conflict resolution skills, and intimate disclosure. Relational satisfaction was measured using an adapted version of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS), which includes items assessing overall relationship quality, trust, commitment, and satisfaction with shared activities.
Results: Results indicated that higher levels of perceived emotional support were associated with lower levels of deployment stress and higher levels of relational satisfaction.
A mediation analysis revealed that perceived emotional support significantly mediated the relationship between deployment stress and relational satisfaction. Specifically, high levels of perceived emotional support buffered the negative impact of deployment stress on relational satisfaction, suggesting that when partners feel emotionally supported by their spouses, they are better able to cope with the stresses of deployment and maintain positive feelings about their relationship.
These findings highlight the importance of emotional support in promoting marital health among military families. Interventions aimed at enhancing couples' emotional connections may help mitigate the negative effects of deployment-related stressors and improve relational outcomes. Future research should continue to explore how different forms of social support, such as practical or informational support, may also moderate the relationship between deployment stress and relational satisfaction.
How does perceived emotional support mediate the relationship between deployment stress and relational satisfaction?
Researchers have found that perceived emotional support can act as a mediator between deployment stress and relational satisfaction. Specifically, when individuals feel emotionally supported by their partners during periods of military deployment, they are more likely to experience higher levels of relational satisfaction (McNulty et al. , 2017).