The purpose of this study is to explore how intimate relationships impact the response to stress among deployed military personnel. Previous studies have demonstrated that deployment can increase stress levels in both military personnel and their families, leading to negative mental health outcomes such as depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance abuse, and relationship difficulties. Intimate relationships play a crucial role in supporting individuals during periods of stress, providing emotional support, social connection, and physical closeness.
The impact of intimate relationships on stress responses in deployed personnel has received limited attention. To address this gap, we conducted an online survey of 150 male and female active duty service members who had recently returned from deployment. Participants completed questionnaires assessing relationship satisfaction, perceived stress, and psychological distress before and after deployment.
Results revealed that higher relationship satisfaction was associated with lower stress levels during deployment. This finding suggests that positive intimate relationships may buffer against the effects of deployment-related stressors. In addition, the study also found that higher relationship satisfaction predicted lower PTSD symptoms following deployment. These findings suggest that intimate relationships may help mitigate the long-term psychological consequences of deployment by reducing PTSD symptoms.
These results should be interpreted with caution, as the sample size was relatively small, and the study did not account for other factors that may influence stress responses during deployment. Future research should examine whether the benefits of intimate relationships extend to other types of stressors or trauma exposure.
Further research is needed to understand how gender differences affect the impact of intimate relationships on stress responses during deployment.
These findings highlight the importance of intimate relationships in promoting resilience among military personnel and their families.
The findings of this study demonstrate that intimate relationships can have both protective and amplifying effects on stress responses during deployment. Positive relationships may act as a buffer against the negative impacts of deployment-related stressors, while strained relationships may exacerbate them. These findings underscore the need to promote healthy relationships among deployed personnel and provide resources to support those experiencing relationship difficulties.
Future research should explore how relationship characteristics such as communication style, conflict resolution strategies, and emotional support impact stress responses during deployment.
How do intimate relationships buffer or amplify stress responses in deployed military personnel?
Intimate relationships can provide various types of support for deployed military personnel. This includes but is not limited to providing emotional support, sharing responsibilities and decision making, promoting positive self-esteem, and creating a sense of belonging. Studies have shown that individuals who are in secure and supportive relationships tend to experience less negative physiological reactivity during periods of stress compared to those who are not (Gallegos et al. , 2015).