Military couples' experiences in the aftermath of a cancelled deployment.

Deployment requires considerable preparation for military families and changes to these plans may create notable stress. The current study leveraged data from a sample of military couples who experienced the cancellation of an overseas deployment to learn more about their experiences as they adjusted to this change. Guided by family stress and anticipatory stress perspectives, we analyzed qualitative data from 28 service members and their significant others (i.e., spouses or cohabitating partners) to understand their overall reactions to the deployment cancellation. We identified three overall reactions (positive, negative, and ambivalent) that were based on participants' appraisals of-and preparations for-deployment, as well as ambiguity about family roles and relationships. Further, participants across groups experienced uncertainty about whether or not the deployment would occur, and altered timelines for other life events. Together, our findings highlight the post-cancellation period as a significant time of stress and transition for military families. However, our findings also signify the need to help all military families cope with uncertainty about when or if deployments will occur given that the military's priorities are often in flux. We therefore describe coping efforts that may be particularly adaptive for families to engage in as they prepare for uncertain, anticipated stressors.

La comisión militar exige una preparación considerable para las familias de militares, y los cambios en estos planes pueden generar bastante estrés. En el presente estudio se utilizaron datos de una muestra de parejas de militares a quienes se les suspendió una comisión fuera del país para averiguar más acerca de sus experiencias mientras se adaptaban a este cambio. Guiados por las perspectivas de estrés familiar y de estrés anticipatorio, analizamos datos cualitativos de 28 miembros del servicio militar y sus parejas (p. ej.: cónyuges o concubinos) para comprender sus reacciones generales a la suspensión de la comisión militar. Identificamos tres reacciones generales (positiva, negativa y ambivalente) que se basaron en las apreciaciones de la comisión y en los preparativos para esta que hicieron los participantes, así como en la ambigüedad acerca de los roles y las relaciones familiares. Además, los participantes de los distintos grupos sintieron incertidumbre acerca de si se produciría o no la comisión y cambiaron programas por otros acontecimientos de la vida. Juntos, nuestros resultados destacan el periodo posterior a la suspensión como un momento de estrés considerable y de transición para las familias de militares. Sin embargo, nuestros resultados también indican la necesidad de ayudar a todas las familias de militares a afrontar la incertidumbre acerca de cuándo ocurrirán las comisiones o de si estas ocurrirán, dado que las prioridades de los militares generalmente cambian constantemente. Por lo tanto, describimos los esfuerzos de afrontamiento que pueden ser particularmente adaptables para las familias mientras se preparan para factores desencadenantes de estrés anticipados e inciertos.

"A Part of Our Family"? Effects of Psychiatric Service Dogs on Quality of Life and Relationship Functioning in Military-Connected Couples.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can have corrosive impacts on family relationships and individual functioning. Emerging evidence has shown that psychiatric service dogs may be an effective complementary treatment for military veterans with PTSD, benefiting veterans' mental and social health. However, few studies have examined the effects of psychiatric service dogs on the family members of veterans, specifically their partners. Mixed-methods data from 60 veteran-partner dyads examined individual and relationship functioning among partners of veterans paired with a service dog (service dog group; n = 37) and those awaiting placement (waitlist group; n = 23). While there were no statistically significant differences across groups, the effect sizes for group differences suggested that partners in the service dog group (relative to those on the waitlist) may experience higher levels of resilience and companionship, and lower levels of anger, social isolation, and work impairment. A topical survey of partner qualitative data within the service dog group indicated that service dogs provided more benefits than challenges. Partners reported improvements in veteran functioning, family relationships, and partners' quality of life. Results, although preliminary, suggest that psychiatric service dogs may provide modest positive experiences for some veteran family systems.