Relational Turbulence Theory Applied to the Transition from Deployment to Reintegration

The transition from deployment to reintegration can be unexpectedly demanding for military couples as they cope with the changes that arose during separation and identify new patterns of relating. Although the postdeployment transition has important ramifications for the well-being of military couples, the homecoming process is relatively undertheorized and underresearched within the deployment cycle. We identify relational turbulence theory, and its predecessor, the relational turbulence model, as a conceptual approach that may account for the upheaval that returning service members and at-home partners encounter during the transition from deployment to reintegration. We delineate relational turbulence principles and research with the goal of evaluating their promise for understanding the postdeployment transition. We also describe implications for research and practice.