This study examined differences among types of marital problems based on whether Airmen were men or women and whether their spouse was also serving on active duty. 28,745 active-duty Airmen […]
military spouses
Finances and fights: How military members’ financial attitudes and behaviors are linked to romantic relationship processes and outcomes (2025)
This cross-sectional study drew on the theory of planned behavior and family systems theory to examine whether Airmen’s attitudes about financial management practices were related to their financial management behaviors […]
Reunion after deployment: Describing findings from a study of military couples funded by the U.S. Department of Defense (2025)
The transition from deployment to reintegration can present unique stressors for returning service members and at-home partners. To better understand the relationship dynamics of military couples upon homecoming, we conducted […]
The role of problem solving appraisal and support in the relationship between stress exposure and posttraumatic stress symptoms of military spouses and service member partners (2024)
Brief Summary: This study examined whether military spouses’ problem-solving resources mitigated the negative effects of stressful experiences on their own and their Service member’s posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). 3,314 military […]
Predicting soldier retention from army spouse characteristics and attitudes: Soldiering on with spouse support (2024)
Brief Summary: With the goal of developing a theory that explains spousal influence on Service member retention, this study examined whether spouse resource use, perceived stress, and attitudes toward the […]
Love Is Not All You Need: Understanding the Association Between Relationship Status and Relationship Dysfunction With Self-Directed Violence in Veterans (2024)
Brief Summary: This study examined whether relationship status and relationship dysfunction were related to Veterans’ self-directed violence (i.e., self-injury, suicidality). 1,049 Veterans self-reported their relationship status (i.e., living together or […]
Gender role reversal: Civilian husbands of U.S. military servicewomen as tied-migrant workers (2024)
Brief Summary: This qualitative study explored civilian husbands’ experiences as “tied-migrant workers” – spouses whose careers and employment opportunities tend to rely on their wives’ military careers. The tied-migrant worker […]
Examining Strength at Home Couples to Prevent Intimate Partner Violence on a Military Installation: A Randomized Controlled Trial (2024)
Brief Summary: Strength at Home Couples (SAH-C) is a group intervention designed to prevent and reduce intimate partner violence (IPV) among military couples. This randomized controlled trial examined whether participants […]
PTSD service dogs foster resilience among veterans and military families (2021)
“Military deployment and reintegration challenges permeate the lives and relationships of Veterans, their spouses, and their families. Among these challenges, 23% of post-9/11 Veterans have been diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Psychiatric service dogs have been found to help clinically alleviate PTSD symptoms when used as a complementary intervention.”
“A Part of Our Family”? Effects of Psychiatric Service Dogs on Quality of Life and Relationship Functioning in Military-Connected Couples (2020)
“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.”