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

https://aub.ie/MilitaryREACH-Giff2020

Giff, S. T., Renshaw, K. D., Carter, S. P., & Paige, L. C. (2020). Deployment-related coping strategies in military couples: Associations with relationship satisfaction. Military Psychology, 32(6), 432-440. https://doi.org/10.1080/08995605.2020.1803725

Using a sample of National Guard/Reserve Service members (n = 154) and their romantic partners (n = 151) who experienced a deployment, this study examined the association between coping and relationship satisfaction while accounting for mental health (i.e., Service members’ posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD] and partners’ psychological distress [i.e., depression, anxiety, and stress]). More specifically, three different forms of coping were explored for both partners: problem-focused (i.e., when an individual tries to change a stressor), emotion-focused (i.e., managing one’s own emotional reaction to the stressor), and avoidance (i.e., avoiding the stressor). Higher levels of romantic partners’ emotion-focused coping were associated with increased relationship satisfaction, whereas avoidance coping was associated with lower relationship satisfaction for both Service members and romantic partners.

https://doi.org/10.1080/08995605.2020.1803725

Couples
Deployment
Mental health
Trauma

Air Force
Army

Active Duty
Reserve
Guard

Active duty service member
Guard/Reserve member
Military families
Spouse of service member or veteran

Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)

Cross-Sectional Study
Quantitative Study

Giff, Sarah T., Renshaw, Keith D., Carter, Sarah P., Paige, Lauren C.

Military deployments are known to be stressful for both military service members (SMs) and their romantic partners. Little is known about how coping strategies used during deployment may relate to one’s own and one’s partner’s relationship satisfaction following deployment. This project investigated the retrospective report of how 154 SMs and their romantic partners coped with deployment-related stress, using previously established coping constructs of problem-focused, emotion-focused, and avoidance coping. Examination of relative associations of coping strategies and mental health symptoms with SMs’ and partners’ relationship satisfaction showed that partners’ emotion-focused coping was positively related to both SMs’ and partners’ relationship satisfaction, whereas partners’ avoidance was negatively related to both their own and SMs’ relationship satisfaction. Results highlight the importance of partner coping within military couples and point to potential strategies for coping with deployment that are associated with enhanced relationship functioning after deployment.

Taylor & Francis

Article
REACH Publication

Department of Psychology, George Mason University, STG
Department of Psychology, George Mason University, KDR
Department of Medical & Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, SPC
Department of Psychology, George Mason University, LCP