Reunion after deployment: Describing findings from a study of military couples funded by the U.S. Department of Defense

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: The transition from deployment to reintegration can present unique stressors for returning service members and at-home partners. To better understand the relationship dynamics of military couples upon homecoming, we conducted a project funded by the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC) Military Operational Medicine Research Program (MOMRP) to track returning service members and at-home partners across the transition. Our goal in this article is to describe findings from the project and lessons learned about collecting data from military couples upon reunion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The research design was a dyadic, longitudinal, self-report study. We gathered online survey data from 1,110 individuals (554 men, 556 women) who were involved in a romantic relationship (554 cross-sex couples, 1 same-sex couple) once per month for 8 consecutive months beginning the first week after homecoming. We analyzed both open-ended and closed-ended responses from participants. RESULTS: Findings documented the types of changes returning service members and at-home partners experienced over time, including both positively-valenced and negatively-valenced changes in emotional intimacy, sexual intimacy, the amount of time spent together, and appraisals of the relationship. Other analyses tracked the trajectory of the transition and revealed an acclimation process for personal well-being but a disillusionment process for relationship well-being from month to month. A third set of results identified communication during deployment, relational uncertainty, interference from a partner, relationship satisfaction, and trust between partners as relationship dynamics that predict outcomes during the transition. CONCLUSIONS: The results imply benefits to helping military couples avoid unrealistic expectations by educating them about the relationship changes typical of reintegration. Support for relationship well-being may be most relevant 4 to 5 weeks after homecoming. Clinical services may have success targeting interpersonal communication skills, relational uncertainty, interference from a partner, relationship satisfaction, and trust between partners. With respect to collecting data from military couples, our advice for principal investigators is to be flexible, stay persistent, and build networks.