Positive and negative family communication and mental distress: Married service members during a non-combat deployment
Research Report:
Research SummaryAPA Citation:
Sullivan, K., Park, Y., Kale, C. N., Adler, A., Sipos, M. L., & Riviere, L. A. (2024). Positive and negative family communication and mental distress: Married service members during a non-combat deployment. Family Process. 63(1), 299-314. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12874
Abstract Created by REACH:
This study examined how the frequency of Service members’ communication with their family members was related to their mental distress while on a noncombat deployment. Analyses also examined whether Service members’ positive and negative perceptions of family communication, as well as their marital satisfaction, altered the relationship between communication frequency and mental distress. During their deployment, 382 Service members completed surveys on how frequently they communicated with family, their mental distress (i.e., anxiety and depression), perceptions of communication, and marital satisfaction. Generally, Service members who reported more frequent communication with their family tended to report higher levels of mental distress, and this distress was exacerbated when communication was viewed more negatively.
Focus:
Deployment
Couples
Mental health
Branch of Service:
Multiple branches
Army
Military Affiliation:
Active Duty
Reserve
Guard
Subject Affiliation:
Active duty service member
Guard/Reserve member
Population:
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
Methodology:
Cross-sectional study
Longitudinal Study
Authors:
Sullivan, Kathrine, Park, Yangjin, Kale, Caroline N., Adler, Amy, Sipos, Maurice L., Riviere, Lyndon A.
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 (
Publication Type:
Article
REACH Publication
Keywords:
communication, couples, deployment, mental distress, service members
REACH Publication Type:
Research Summary
REACH Newsletter: