Healthy Reintegration for Military Couples

Introduction: Extended conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq have resulted in an unprecedented number of

deployments. Stage models characterizing the deployment cycle have focused primarily on individual

experiences of deployment separation (e.g., emotional cycle; Logan, 1987). Recent research has

shown that deployment separation also affects spousal relationships and individual partners in

unique ways (VanAernam, Ross & DeVoe, 2014); however, little is known about factors that military

families themselves believe to be associated with positive reintegration experiences.

Methods: As part of a needs assessment for a larger intervention study, a series of 38 matched

individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 couples who are also parents. All

participants had recently been deployed or had experienced the deployment of a spouse. Participants

were asked about experiences of parenting, family/couple communication, and the spousal relationship

throughout the cycle of deployment. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using with

thematic analysis using Atlas.ti (Braun & Clarke, 2006).

Findings: Salient themes related to the deployment cycle phase, attitudes

about deployment, and interpersonal interactions were associated with positive (or healthy)

reintegration. Specifically, healthy reintegration consists of interpersonal interactions of recognition,

understanding and acceptance of change between family members, specifically spouses, characterized

by mutual respect. Pre-deployment attitudes related to perception of deployment were also salient.

Conclusion: Reintegration-related stressors may be mitigated by attending to perceptions of

deployment during the pre-deployment phase and communication strategies during separation and

reintegration. Findings will inform preventive interventions designed for military couples that span all

phases of the deployment cycle.