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Guérin E, Richer I. Piloting the home ship: Understanding the deployment experience of Canadian Special Operations Forces Command spouses. Mil Psychol 2024; 36:168-183. [PMID: 38377246 PMCID: PMC10880494 DOI: 10.1080/08995605.2022.2153548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Special Operations Forces (SOF) members are frequently deployed to hostile environments for prolonged periods of time, and their families are exposed to unique difficulties and stressors. The purpose of this study was to describe the lived experience of Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) spouses as it relates to the intensity of the SOF deployment process. As part of a larger study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 29 spouses of CANSOFCOM members. The interviews were coded and analyzed using thematic analysis to identify the central dimensions of spouses' experience with deployment. Participants reflected on their experiences, from pre-deployment to post-deployment, and as they transitioned between deployments, across social/relational, practical/instrumental, and psychological/emotional dimensions. The findings raised important concerns regarding perpetual transitions for the family unit and exhaustion among spouses faced with a deployment loop that never closes. Although results echoed previous studies, in terms of the strain of solo-parenting and coping with children's emotional needs, communication and maintaining connections, these aspects were uniquely affected by repeated deployments, prolonged time away, operations security, and high organizational demands. Although many spouses acquired the strength and skills to cope with the lifestyle, the findings suggest several opportunities to tailor resources and support services to their dynamic needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Guérin
- Department of National Defence, Director General Military Personnel Research and Analysis, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Isabelle Richer
- Department of National Defence, Director General Military Personnel Research and Analysis, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Sullivan K, Park Y, Kale CN, Adler A, Sipos ML, Riviere LA. Positive and negative family communication and mental distress: Married service members during a non-combat deployment. Fam Process 2023. [PMID: 37051805 DOI: 10.1111/famp.12874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
This study examines whether married service member perceptions of positive or negative communication moderate the relationship between how frequently they communicate home during a deployment and their mental distress. Participants included 382 married service members who completed surveys regarding their marital relationships, communication, and mental health while on a non-combat deployment. Though marital satisfaction was not significantly associated with service member reports of their mental distress, perceptions of negative (β = 4.32, SE = 0.59, p < 0.001) and positive communication (β = -1.32, SE = 0.57, p < 0.05) were. Further, significant interactions between frequency of communication and the perception of negative (β = 0.54, SE = 0.13, p < 0.001) and positive (β = 0.17, SE = 0.07, p < 0.01) communication suggest positive communication may be protective for service members while frequent, negative communication can exacerbate distress. Findings highlight the importance of engaging families in planning and skill building to support healthy communication across the deployment cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrine Sullivan
- Silver School of Social Work, New York University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Yangjin Park
- School of Social Work, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, USA
| | - Caroline N Kale
- Silver School of Social Work, New York University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Amy Adler
- Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Maurice L Sipos
- Department of Command, Leadership, and Management, US Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Lyndon A Riviere
- Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
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3
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Abstract
Work-family balance has received meaningful attention from researchers and practitioners alike. Work and family are usually seen as two separate domains that are interdependent, with boundaries that have some level of permeability. Crisis situations can alter permeability of these boundaries, enhancing integration of the two domains due to exchange of ideas and spillover of concerns between these domains. This study looks at how these boundaries are impacted for nurses working directly with COVID-19 patients. The study conducted 24 semi-structured interviews with nurses. Through a thematic analysis the study found that the work-family boundaries have blurred due to concerns around the contagiousness and anxiety associated with the virus. In order to cope with these spillover and possible crossover effects, nurses use prosocial distortion and avoidance and create sub-boundaries at home.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surabhi Sahay
- Coporate Communication, Pennsylvania State University
| | - Wan Wei
- School of Communication and Information, Rutgers University
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Carter SP, Renshaw KD, Allen ES, Markman HJ, Stanley SM. Everything Here is Fine: Protective Buffering by Military Spouses During a Deployment. Fam Process 2020; 59:1261-1274. [PMID: 31254284 DOI: 10.1111/famp.12457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
To minimize potential distractions for deployed military service members (SMs), some nondeployed romantic partners have reported engaging in protective buffering, or intentionally withholding information or concerns to protect their deployed partner. This study assessed the associations of protective buffering and psychological distress and marital satisfaction for military couples during and after deployment. Additionally, the study explored whether protective buffering was related to SM reports of being distracted during deployment by family matters. A total of 54 couples provided data before, during, and after an Army deployment. In multilevel models, higher protective buffering by partners was associated with higher psychological distress and lower marital satisfaction for both SMs and partners during, but not after, deployment. Additionally, partners reported frequent use of protective buffering during deployment; however, protective buffering was not significantly correlated with family related distraction for SMs during deployment. Limitations and implications of these findings are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah P Carter
- Department of Psychology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
- Seattle-Denver Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered Value-Driven Care, VA Puget Sound Health Services, Seattle, WA
- Department of Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Keith D Renshaw
- Department of Psychology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
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Carter SP, Renshaw KD, Curby TW, Allen ES, Markman HJ, Stanley SM. Protective Buffering by Service Members During Military Deployments: Associations with Psychological Distress and Relationship Functioning. Fam Process 2020; 59:525-536. [PMID: 30615191 DOI: 10.1111/famp.12426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
To shield a romantic partner from potential distress due to stressors occurring during deployment, service members (SMs) may engage in protective buffering, or withholding information or concerns from a romantic partner. This study utilized data from 54 couples collected before, during, and after a military deployment to assess whether SMs engaged in protective buffering while deployed and the possible associations between buffering and psychological, relationship, and contextual factors. Only 2% of SMs indicated never engaging in protective buffering during a deployment. In bivariate analyses, only partners' psychological distress prior to deployment was significantly associated (negatively) with protective buffering. In multilevel models with time nested within individuals, and individuals nested within couples, higher buffering was associated with less partner distress during deployment, but was also associated with higher SM distress both during and after deployment. In these multilevel models, protective buffering was not significantly associated with SM or partner marital satisfaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah P Carter
- Department of Psychology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
| | - Keith D Renshaw
- Department of Psychology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
| | - Timothy W Curby
- Department of Psychology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
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Cordova JV, Cigrang JA, Gray TD, Najera E, Havrilenko M, Pinkley C, Nielsen M, Tatum J, Redd K. Addressing Relationship Health Needs in Primary Care: Adapting the Marriage Checkup for Use in Medical Settings with Military Couples. J Clin Psychol Med Settings 2017; 24:259-269. [PMID: 29170878 DOI: 10.1007/s10880-017-9517-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The overall objective of this study was to pilot the Marriage Checkup (MC), a brief intervention for enhancing marital resiliency tailored to a military population, for use by internal behavioral health consultants (IBHCs) working in an integrated primary care clinic. The MC was revised to fit into the fast-paced environment of primary care (e.g., streamlined to fit within three 30-min appointments), and military-relevant material was added to the content. IBHCs working in primary care were then trained to offer the intervention. Thirty participants were enrolled in the study and completed a relationship checkup and one-month follow-up questionnaires. Analysis of post-test and one-month follow-up data showed statistically significant improvements in participants' marital health compared to pre-treatment. The MC intervention appeared to be well received by both couples and IBHCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- James V Cordova
- Psychology Department, Clark University, 950 Main St., Worcester, MA, 01610, USA.
| | - Jeffrey A Cigrang
- School of Professional Psychology, Wright State University, Dayton, OH, USA
| | - Tatiana D Gray
- Psychology Department, Clark University, 950 Main St., Worcester, MA, 01610, USA
| | - Elizabeth Najera
- Wilford Hall, Ambulatory Services Center, Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Matt Havrilenko
- Psychology Department, Clark University, 950 Main St., Worcester, MA, 01610, USA
| | - Crystal Pinkley
- United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Dayton, OH, USA
| | - Matthew Nielsen
- Air Force Medical Operations Agency, Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - JoLyn Tatum
- Wright-Patterson Medical Center, Dayton, OH, USA
| | - Kristen Redd
- Wright-Patterson Medical Center, Dayton, OH, USA
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Bakhurst MG, Loew B, McGuire ACL, Halford WK, Markman HJ. Relationship Education for Military Couples: Recommendations for Best Practice. Fam Process 2017; 56:302-316. [PMID: 26932356 DOI: 10.1111/famp.12211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Military couples have a number of distinctive strengths and challenges that are likely to influence their relationship adjustment. Military couples' strengths include stable employment, financial security, and subsidized health and counseling services. At the same time, military couples often experience long periods of separation and associated difficulties with emotional disconnect, trauma symptoms, and reintegrating the family. This paper describes best practice recommendations for working with military couples, including: addressing the distinctive challenges of the military lifestyle, ensuring program delivery is seen as relevant by military couples, and providing relationship education in formats that enhance the accessibility of programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa G Bakhurst
- School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Benjamin Loew
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, CO
| | | | - W Kim Halford
- School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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