Marsh, Maddie, Jane Pride, Amanda

Deployment is associated with a wide range of challenges for Service members and their families. Civilian military spouses must adjust their household routines, which means becoming the primary parent and maintaining finances, while also coping with the physical separation of their partner’s deployment. This article will discuss findings from research studies related to pre-deployment and suggest ways couples can prepare for deployment. According to a recent research study conducted by Richardson and colleagues (2020), deployment-related resources (e.g., support from family and friends and/or a mental health provider) were associated with greater mental health for Service members and spouses, as well as with greater spousal deployment readiness (i.e., a spouse’s ability to manage the demands of deployment). In addition, Collins and colleagues (2017) found that pre-deployment preparation (e.g., communication plan during deployment, power of attorney) and stronger, more established marital relationships were related to lower depressive symptoms before deployment. Consistent with previous research on this topic, adequate resources are necessary to improve spousal pre-deployment preparedness. Preparation in the months leading up to deployment can alleviate many stressors many military couples experience. Below are a few suggestions and resources for helping military spouses with their deployment preparation: ● Lean on family and friends when you need support. Finding support among family, friends, or community is a way to alleviate deployment stress. Your support system can offer you guidance and assistance completing daily tasks, such as childcare, running errands, and cooking. To help develop your support network within your community, connect with new friends through activities you enjoy, such as working out or attending religious services. If you are interested in finding other military spouses to relate to, consider joining your installation’s Family Readiness Group or learning about the Spouse Ambassador Network. ● Strengthen your relationship with your partner. While preparing for deployment, it is easy to get caught up in the to-dos and leave your relationship on the back burner. It is important that couples prioritize their relationship as much as possible. Couples can do this by engaging in quality communication throughout their relationship – even during deployment. ● Therapy or counseling. Large life changes such as deployment can bring about stress and uncertainty. Having someone to work through these feelings with you can reduce your stress and help you feel more at ease. Individual or couples counseling is a great way to prepare couples for the challenges of deployment. Military OneSource offers a multitude of resources to connect you with the support you need. Military spouses play a key role in helping their families navigate deployment. Do not let the challenges of deployment catch you by surprise: successful navigation of deployment requires preparing before deployment. The tips we provided can help equip you for deployment – and possibly alleviate some of the stress that comes along with it.

Family Story

https://militaryreach.auburn.edu/ffSpousesandPreDeployment.jsp

Annino, Lily, Stearns, Hannah

Deployment is a major disruption in the lives of both the Service member and their partner, and adjusting to this new normal can take a toll on the relationship. Researchers have identified three common coping strategies used by couples to manage stressors during a deployment (i.e., avoidance, problem-focused, and emotion-focused) and evaluated how each strategy worked for the couples. We will discuss each method below. Emotion-Focused Coping Emotion-focused coping involves coping with the feelings related to the stressor rather than addressing the stressor directly. This strategy can be particularly helpful when dealing with the deployment stress because, while you cannot change the deployment, you can change the way you cope with it (e.g., go for a walk, bake a cake for your co-workers to take your mind off your partner being away). Researchers found that partners who use higher levels of emotion-focused coping and lower levels of avoidance coping during deployment report higher levels of relationship satisfaction. Problem-Solving Coping Problem-focused coping means trying to change the stressor itself. This strategy is most effective in situations where control is possible. Researchers found that when service members and their partners used problem-solving as a coping strategy during a deployment, it did not associate positively or negatively with their relationship satisfaction. Problem-focused coping is therefore unhelpful for cope specifically with a deployment. Avoidance Coping Avoidance coping is the management of conflict by not addressing the conflict directly. This can look like passive-aggressiveness, procrastination, or avoiding discussion of the issue. Sometimes, it’s easier to avoid a problem because it’s too difficult to face; however, avoidance coping strategies have the potential to make you angrier. Researchers found that avoidance coping was used most commonly by service members with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and by partners with psychological distress (i.e., anxiety, depression, and stress). However, in military couple relationships, both service members and their partners’ use of avoidance approaches resulted in lower relationship satisfaction and more psychological distress. It's important to remember that the most beneficial coping strategy is the one best-suited to each situation. Emotion-focused coping works great for managing stressors beyond your control, like a deployment. With that said, research has consistently shown that avoidance coping is linked to poor well-being. Although deployments are challenging for couples and families, spend time creating a plan that will allow you to maintain control of your relationship.

Family Story

https://militaryreach.auburn.edu/ffCopingStrategies.jsp