Abstract
Background: Although military families worldwide face changes that include adapting to peace and wartime deployments, few studies have explored how military families adapt to the post-deployment return of a service member. Objectives: To identify variables that predicted post-deployment adaptation of U.S. Navy families. Methods: A mixed method study guided by the Roy Adaptation Model included a convenience sample of 142 spouses of service members recently returned from deployment. The degree to which length of deployment, prior deployments, and years married, number of children, participation in religious and family support groups, communication, race, and interdependence predicted post-deployment family adaptation was tested. Multiple regression analysis and content analysis were used to analyze quantitative and qualitative data to better understand post- deployment adaptation of military families. Results: Post-deployment family adaptation was significantly predicted by having been previously deployed and by scores measuring family interdependence. Content analysis of qualitative responses from 10 spouses indicated that 90% experienced integrated adaptive responses. Conclusions: Family interdependence and prior deployments predicted levels of post-deployment family adaptation. Families who “give time” to adjust, communicate, and resume family routines experienced levels of adaptive response. Keywords: Deployment, Family, Family Nursing, Military Families, Spouse.
Highlights
Background: military families worldwide face changes that include adapting to peace and wartime deployments, few studies have explored how military families adapt to the post-deployment return of a service member
A mixed method study guided by the Roy Adaptation Model included a convenience sample of 142 spouses of service members recently returned from deployment
The current study proposed to test predictors of post-deployment family adaptation as reported by the non-deployed spouses of service members serving in the U.S Navy during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm
Summary
Military families worldwide face changes that include adapting to peace and wartime deployments, few studies have explored how military families adapt to the post-deployment return of a service member. Their study of reintegration stress explored wartime deployment as a catastrophic traumatic event for families before and following deployment that created significant stress for families trying to reintegrate a service member who may be experiencing combat related stress, post-traumatic stress disorder, and aggression. These authors reported that families themselves might have been experiencing anger and aggression toward the service member as a result of feelings of abandonment These selected studies extended inquiry into military service by the inclusion of spouses of deployed men, deployed women, and children of deployed women who have served in times of war. The current study proposed to test predictors of post-deployment family adaptation as reported by the non-deployed spouses of service members serving in the U.S Navy during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm.
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