Latent profiles of postdeployment reintegration among service members and their partners
Research Report:
APA Citation:
O’Neal, C. W., & Lavner, J. A. (2022). Latent profiles of postdeployment reintegration among service members and their partners. Journal of Family Psychology. 36(1), 35–45. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/fam0000894
Abstract Created by REACH:
This study explores whether Service members (n = 236) and their civilian partners (n = 141) have diverse reintegration experiences (i.e., the time following deployment when military families adjust to the Service member’s return). Participants reported both positive and negative reintegration experiences across their personal and family life. These reintegration experiences were used to classify similar participants into groups, and these groups were analyzed for differences in individual and family functioning (e.g., sleep duration, depressive symptoms, family closeness). Despite reporting some differences in reintegration experiences, most Service members and civilian partners reported high levels of positive personal and family reintegration experiences.
Focus:
Couples
Deployment
Mental health
Physical health
Branch of Service:
Army
Military Affiliation:
Active Duty
Subject Affiliation:
Active duty service member
Parent of a service member or veteran
Population:
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
Methodology:
Cross-Sectional Study
Quantitative Study
Authors:
O'Neal, Catherine Walker, Lavner, Justin A.
Abstract:
Consistent with the emotional cycle of deployment, postdeployment reintegration is often a time of highs and lows as service members (SMs) and their families adjust to their new normal. However, few studies have considered the nuances of reintegration, specifically the various patterns of personal and family reintegration experiences that may exist. The present study uses latent profile analysis to identify unique reintegration patterns along four dimensions (i.e., positive personal, negative personal, positive family, and negative family reintegration) for SMs (N = 236) and a subsample of their civilian partners (N = 141). Differences among the resulting reintegration profiles were also examined for demographics, military-related characteristics, psychosocial characteristics, and individual and family functioning. Three profile groups with varying reintegration experiences emerged for SMs, and two groups emerged for civilian partners. For both SMs and their civilian partners, one profile (39.0% of SMs and 63.8% of civilian partners) was characterized by high positive family and personal reintegration and low negative family and personal reintegration. Other groups reported moderate to high positive and negative family and personal reintegration. SMs and civilian partners with the most favorable reintegration profile reported greater family cohesion. For SMs, differences in sleep were also reported across the reintegration profiles, whereas, for civilian partners, differences in depressive symptoms emerged across the reintegration profiles. Few group differences emerged for demographics, military-related characteristics, and psychosocial characteristics. Findings highlight important variability in military families' experiences within the reintegration stage of the deployment cycle. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Publisher/Sponsoring Organization:
American Psychological Association
Publication Type:
Article
REACH Publication
Author Affiliation:
Human Development and Family Science, University of Georgia, CWO
Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, JAL
Keywords:
resilience, military families, postdeployment reintegration, latent profile analysis
REACH Publication Type:
Research Summary
REACH Newsletter: