Stressful Experiences, Coping Strategies, and Predictors of Health-Related Outcomes Among Wives of Deployed Military Servicemen

A survey of military wives (N=77) identified their most stressful experiences, self-appraised control over these stressors, and coping strategies used. We examine two competing hypotheses: the 'goodness-of-fit' hypothesis that the effects of problem-focused coping (PFC) and emotion-focused coping (EFC) strategies on distress are moderated by the appraised controllability of the stressor, and the 'main-effects' hypothesis that PFC strategies are more effective than EFC strategies in reducing distress regardless of appraisal of controllability. Wives identified deployment of soldiers as their most stressful experience, and reported using PFC strategies more frequently than EFC strategies. EFC strategies were predictive of greater physical symptoms of illness, while PFC strategies were related to reduced physical symptoms of illness only when military wives’ perceived control of the situation was low. PFC strategies and controllability were significantly related to decreased depressive symptoms; EFC was marginally related to increased depressive symptoms, lending greater support to the main-effects hypothesis.

This study is available for download in PDF version here.

 

Stressors, Coping Strategies, and Physical and Psychological Well-Being in Military Spouses

The purpose of this study was three-fold: (1) to identify the stressors that military spouses experience during combat deployment and reintegration following homecoming ; (2) to examine the coping strategies adopted by military spouses to deal with these stressors; and (3) to examine the relationships between stress, coping, and physical and psychological well-being. Two online surveys were distributed to the wives of Soldiers serving with the United States Army’s First Infantry Division at Fort Hood, Texas. The first survey was completed while the Soldiers were deployed overseas (N=287) and the second survey was completed three months after the return of the Soldiers to Fort Hood (N=189). The surveys measured the wives’ stressors (most stressful experience and chronic stressors), psychosocial factors (social support, coping, and resilience), and health related outcomes (depressive and physical symptoms). Statistical analysis of the data is currently underway.

 

 

 

 

 

A long, healthy, and happy life is the result of making contributions, of having meaningful projects that are personally exciting and contribute to and bless the lives of others.
~Hans Selye