Family Reintegration of Reserve Service Members

Following Wartime Deployment:

A Qualitative Exploration of Wives’ Experience

by Lisa R. Gorbaty

Setting the Stage Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) began

on October 7, 2001 and Operation Iraqi Freedom (Iraq) began on March 19, 2003

Of the 1,010,761 soldiers in the Army, 48% are active duty, 33% are National Guard and 19% are Reserve

At one point in 2005, over half of all troops deployed to Iraq were in the National Guard (Selsky, 2007)

According to the Department of Defense (2007), 75% of all reserve troops are parents

Purpose of the Present Study Gain an in-depth understanding of the

experience of spouses of Army ReserveReserve and Army National GuardNational Guard service members

To examine long termlong term family reintegration processes (5 mos-4 years following return)

To examine how wartime deployment cycles affect familiesfamilies (historically, reserve troops did not deploy to combat zones)

Structured Interview Deployment Reintegration (ST & LT) Level of support Transition to civilian work Experience as civilian spouse with

deployed husband Physical & Mental Health Marriage

Demographic Information (n=8) Caucasian, English speaking Average age 40, range: 25-57 years old 5 Protestant, 2 Catholic, 1 non-denominational Christian 5 National Guard, 3 Army Reserve 3 Officers (attend Officers Candidate School), 4 Non-

commissioned Officers (an enlisted service member that has been granted authority by an Officer), 1 Warrant Officer (technical experts; rank considered between NCOs and Officers)

Lived 30-90 miles from nearest military base Husbands returned 5mo-4years earlier Children, age range 3mo-27 years

Challenges for Reservist families Participants had held no expectation that Participants had held no expectation that

husband would deploy to war zonehusband would deploy to war zone Civilian employment status; financial concernsCivilian employment status; financial concerns Lack of camaraderie with other military families Lack of camaraderie with other military families

(i.e. husbands were cross-leveled, pulled from (i.e. husbands were cross-leveled, pulled from units across New England)units across New England)

Lack of formal military and social supportLack of formal military and social support Caught between civilian and military worldCaught between civilian and military world Increased comfort seeking support from other Increased comfort seeking support from other

military wives or family with military experiencemilitary wives or family with military experience Lack of understanding from general publicLack of understanding from general public

Ambiguous Loss Many participants reported that their husbands Many participants reported that their husbands

were “changed” men upon return were “changed” men upon return

PTSD: damage to marital relationship, parental PTSD: damage to marital relationship, parental relationship; feelings of anger, resentment, relationship; feelings of anger, resentment, isolation were reportedisolation were reported Ambiguous Loss (Boss, 2007) Psychological presence, physical absence Physical presence, psychological absence

Ambivalence regarding gratitude for husbands’ Ambivalence regarding gratitude for husbands’ service and resentment over changesservice and resentment over changes

Concerns of Burdening Others Participants reported that both partners withheld Participants reported that both partners withheld

information during deployment in an effort to information during deployment in an effort to avoid burdening or worrying one another during avoid burdening or worrying one another during deploymentdeployment

Majority of wives believed husbands withheld Majority of wives believed husbands withheld extent of wartime experiences upon returnextent of wartime experiences upon return

Wives’ ambivalence about gaining this Wives’ ambivalence about gaining this informationinformation

Keeping “brave front” for children and general Keeping “brave front” for children and general community community

Social Support & FRGs All participants felt supported to some All participants felt supported to some

degree, majority would have appreciated degree, majority would have appreciated additional supports; all felt formal military additional supports; all felt formal military supports were lacking supports were lacking

Commonly sought support from friends, Commonly sought support from friends, family, neighbors, church; may be isolated family, neighbors, church; may be isolated in community (Bartone, 1999) so in community (Bartone, 1999) so accessing support may be challengingaccessing support may be challenging

Problems with FRGs: location, times, Problems with FRGs: location, times, “gossipy”, lacking in information“gossipy”, lacking in information

Shifts in Roles and Responsibilities All participants reported shifts in household roles and All participants reported shifts in household roles and

responsibilities during deployment; five reported major responsibilities during deployment; five reported major changes; two participants unable to maintain employmentchanges; two participants unable to maintain employment

Particular problems for those married to veterans with PTSD Particular problems for those married to veterans with PTSD (assuming all responsibilities for house, childcare, finances)(assuming all responsibilities for house, childcare, finances)

Half of all participants did not want to relinquish new roles Half of all participants did not want to relinquish new roles they had adopted during deployment, particularly those they had adopted during deployment, particularly those associated with increased independenceassociated with increased independence

Lack of clarity may be disorienting for spouse, veteran, and children

Children’s Experience Two families had children seeing MH Two families had children seeing MH

professionals, another debatingprofessionals, another debating Increased anger and resentment (25%), academic Increased anger and resentment (25%), academic

problems (25%), major behavioral problems problems (25%), major behavioral problems (13%)(13%) How are these children’s issues understood by friends,

teachers, etc.? (vignette) Veteran difficulty assuming parenting role upon Veteran difficulty assuming parenting role upon

return as a result of PTSDreturn as a result of PTSD Veteran difficult assuming parenting role—left Veteran difficult assuming parenting role—left

baby, returns to toddlerbaby, returns to toddler

Effects of PTSD on Families PTSD- 25% in present study, consistent with PTSD- 25% in present study, consistent with

national reported average (DeAngelis, 2007) national reported average (DeAngelis, 2007) All reported some degree of MH symptomsAll reported some degree of MH symptoms Unable to effectively parent; worry about leaving Unable to effectively parent; worry about leaving

child alone with veteran child alone with veteran Veteran not wanting to assume any responsibilityVeteran not wanting to assume any responsibility Rely on extended family for childcareRely on extended family for childcare Constant attempts to predict mood of veteranConstant attempts to predict mood of veteran Contemplated divorce– “living with a stranger”Contemplated divorce– “living with a stranger” Lack of sexual intimacyLack of sexual intimacy

Vignette… ““During that first year, I was afraid to leave him home with During that first year, I was afraid to leave him home with

her, because the two or three times that I did, he was either her, because the two or three times that I did, he was either in the emergency room with her or he wasn’t paying in the emergency room with her or he wasn’t paying attention and she fell down the stairs. I shouldn’t feel that attention and she fell down the stairs. I shouldn’t feel that way. And now she sees it. And she sees stuff and she is like, way. And now she sees it. And she sees stuff and she is like, I don’t want daddy around…. When he is home with her, he I don’t want daddy around…. When he is home with her, he will sit here and watch TV and won’t pay attention to her. will sit here and watch TV and won’t pay attention to her. And it is sad when she is in front of him and says “Daddy, And it is sad when she is in front of him and says “Daddy, hello?” I hate to compare him to other people, but I see all hello?” I hate to compare him to other people, but I see all the other dads out there with their kids playing and he is in the other dads out there with their kids playing and he is in here watching TV… She knows more about what is going on here watching TV… She knows more about what is going on than he does. She will tell him, “Daddy, I need to eat.” than he does. She will tell him, “Daddy, I need to eat.” “Daddy, I need to go to bed.” It is a bad situation.”“Daddy, I need to go to bed.” It is a bad situation.”

Also hard for father who left when child was 6 mos, ret when she was 2

Needs Proposed by Participants Spontaneously offered responses:Spontaneously offered responses: Increased social supports for both spouses and Increased social supports for both spouses and

children during deploymentchildren during deployment Family supports Family supports following returnfollowing return—especially for —especially for

families of veterans with PTSD—general families of veterans with PTSD—general guidanceguidance around reintegration process around reintegration process

FRGs to continue after soldiers’ returnFRGs to continue after soldiers’ return Psycho-educationPsycho-education regarding signs and symptoms regarding signs and symptoms

of PTSD for families and soldiers of PTSD for families and soldiers Information about services available and how to Information about services available and how to

access these servicesaccess these services

Needs Proposed by Participants (cont’d) Military assessing mental and physical Military assessing mental and physical

health problems more appropriatelyhealth problems more appropriately Participants reported concern over assessing Participants reported concern over assessing

MH problems immediately upon return (stigma, MH problems immediately upon return (stigma, excitement of reunion)excitement of reunion)

Employee Assistance ProgramsEmployee Assistance Programs

Positive Outcomes Majority of participants reported increased Majority of participants reported increased

appreciation of family and new appreciation of family and new perspective on lifeperspective on life

Personal growth Personal growth Growth as a coupleGrowth as a couple Closer as family unitCloser as family unit Improved communicationImproved communication

Trauma can provide opportunity for growth and resiliency (Walsh, 2007)

Clinical Implications More services for families (making FRGs more

accessible by alternating times, locations, MH professionals available; support groups for families of veterans with PTSD)

Better screening for MH problems (mandated screenings at three month intervals; in person interview)

Psycho-education weekends for families (increase camaraderie; educate mental health issues)

Support groups for children; information dispersed to teachers, doctors in civilian community

Educating MH professionals to ask about military service in the family