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Deployment and combat experiences and their impact on partner substance use
Jessica A Kulak1, Jennifer Fillo2, D Lynn Homish1
1Department of Community Health and Health Behavior, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
Journal of Military Social Work and Behavioral Health Services
|January 27, 2025
Summary
Military service experiences negatively impact partners
Area of Science:
- Military Psychology
- Substance Use Research
- Family Studies
Background:
- Growing evidence links military service experiences to negative spouse/partner outcomes.
- Limited research explores these effects on substance use.
- Relationship satisfaction is a known protective factor for health.
Purpose of the Study:
- Examine the relationship between military service experiences (deployment, combat exposure) and partner substance use.
- Investigate if relationship satisfaction buffers these effects.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study (Operation: SAFETY) of 275 US Army Reserve/National Guard soldiers and partners.
- Analyzed soldier service history (baseline) and civilian partner alcohol/drug use (2-year follow-up).
- Examined interactions with relationship satisfaction, controlling for covariates.
Main Results:
- Service experiences significantly predicted partner alcohol consumption and heavy drinking.
- Higher relationship satisfaction mitigated alcohol use in partners of soldiers with multiple deployments or combat exposure.
- No significant association found between service experiences and partner drug use.
Conclusions:
- Military deployment and combat exposure negatively affect civilian partner alcohol consumption.
- Relationship satisfaction acts as a buffer against increased substance use.
- Interventions strengthening soldier-spouse relationships may reduce partner substance use.
Keywords:
alcohol useclose relationshipsillicit drug usemilitary service membersrelationship satisfactionsubstance useMore Related Videos
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