Military deployment can create significant relationship strain. Although most couples navigate the challenges of deployment successfully, this period may render some couples more vulnerable to adverse relationship outcomes such as infidelity due to a convergence of factors including geographic separation and reduced emotional and physical intimacy. Despite anecdotal reports of increased rates of infidelity during deployment, empirical findings are lacking. This study used a prospective design to examine the prevalence and risk factors of infidelity across the deployment cycle including a year-long deployment to Iraq. A total of 63 married male Airmen were assessed both pre- and 6-9 months postdeployment. The rate of sexual infidelity prior to deployment (21%) was commensurate with the lifetime rate of sexual involvement outside the marriage in representative community samples of men. Across the deployment period, the prevalence of sexual infidelity was strikingly high (22.6%) compared with annual community estimates (1.5-4%; Allen et al., 2005). Findings demonstrated that service members with a prior history of separation, steps toward divorce, and relationship distress prior to deployment had elevated risk for infidelity over the deployment cycle. Moreover, roughly 75% of Airmen who experienced infidelity over the deployment cycle divorced by 6-9 months postdeployment whereas only 5% of service members without infidelity divorced during this same time period. Considering well-documented adverse impacts of infidelity and divorce, the current findings may assist in identifying military couples at risk for infidelity and informing targeted prevention or early intervention strategies for these couples prior to or immediately following deployment. (PsycINFO Database Record
Sexual assault is a common traumatic experience that can have a wide-ranging impact on psychological functioning, including experience of depressive symptoms. While many studies have examined lifetime rates of depression among those with sexual assault history, less is known regarding risk factors for depressive symptoms following recent sexual assault. The study examined whether drug use history is uniquely related to depressive symptoms following recent assault. Method: N = 65 individuals (5.4% female; 73.8% white; M(SD)age = 28.89 (10.29)) who had recently experienced sexual assault (less than 60 days) and completed a SAMFE were interviewed via phone and completed questionnaires regarding depressive and acute/posttraumatic stress symptoms and substance use history. Demographic information as well as information related to the assault was also collected. Results: 68.7% of the sample reported clinically significant levels of depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 scores ≥ 12). In a linear mixed model, drug use was significantly related depressive symptoms (β = .19, p = .04), even controlling for acute/ posttraumatic stress (β = .72, p < .01) and other variables. Individuals who identified as white reported more severe depressive symptoms (β = .19, p = .02). Forced sexual assault (β = −.07), victim-perpetrator relationship (β = −.01), alcohol misuse (β = −.06), and days since assault (β = −.08) were not significantly related to depressive symptoms (p's>.05). Conclusion: Results highlight the potential role of drug use in increasing risk for experiencing clinically significant depressive symptoms following recent assault.
Objective: This study investigated the impact of combat exposure and nonsexual harassment (verbal and nonverbal behaviors that convey negative and harmful attitudes on the basis of minority status) on mental health functioning in female veterans who were deployed Afghanistan and Iraq. Method: Participants (N = 134) completed measures of combat exposure, nonsexual harassment, PTSD, depression, and alcohol use. Results: Binary logistic regression models indicated nonsexual harassment was significantly associated with later symptoms of PTSD and depression, but not problem drinking; combat exposure was significantly associated with symptoms of PTSD and alcohol use, but not depression. Relative risk ratios indicated that for women with even minimal exposure to combat, experiencing nonsexual harassment significantly increased the likelihood of manifesting PTSD, depression, and problem drinking symptoms that met at least minimum threshold for clinical diagnoses. The impact of nonsexual harassment resulted in an almost 4 times greater risk for PTSD symptoms and problem drinking and up to 6 times greater risk for depression when experienced concurrently with combat exposure. Conclusions: Although nonsexual harassment does not pose the same physical threat as assault from enemy fire, findings suggest that it does pose an invisible threat to mental health and contribute to understanding and contextualizing the impact of nonsexual harassment on female veterans' psychological well-being.
Clinical Impact StatementThis study identifies nonsexual harassment is a potential target for prevention and early intervention to reduce the likelihood of experiencing mental health problems following deployment. This study also illuminates the compound risk of experiencing combat exposure and harassment, alerting primary care providers and clinicians alike to the potential threat of these comorbid experiences in female veterans.
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