Military children's difficulty with reintegration after deployment: A relational turbulence model perspective

Leanne K. Knobloch, Lynne M. Knobloch-Fedders, Jeremy B. Yorgason, Aaron T. Ebata, Patricia C. McGlaughlin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This study drew on the relational turbulence model to investigate how the interpersonal dynamics of military couples predict parents' reports of the reintegration difficulty of military children upon homecoming after deployment. Longitudinal data were collected from 118 military couples once per month for 3 consecutive months after reunion. Military couples reported on their depressive symptoms, characteristics of their romantic relationship, and the reintegration difficulty of their oldest child. Results of dyadic growth curve models indicated that the mean levels of parents' depressive symptoms (H1), relationship uncertainty (H2), and interference from a partner (H3) were positively associated with parents' reports of military children's reintegration difficulty. These findings suggest that the relational turbulence model has utility for illuminating the reintegration difficulty of military children during the postdeployment transition.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)542-552
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Family Psychology
Volume31
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2017

Keywords

  • Depressive symptoms
  • Interference from a partner
  • Military children
  • Relational uncertainty
  • Reunion after deployment

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Psychology

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