Attachment theory as applied to wartime and job-related marital separation.

Abstract

Research on wartime, long routine, and short routine marital separation is reviewed, with focus on spouses' distress, coping, and reunion reactions. Spouses' reactions are interpreted from the perspective of J. Bowlby's (1969) attachment theory (a) to illustrate similarities in spouses' reactions across different types of separation experiences, which argue for an integration of research in this field within a single conceptual framework; (b) to illustrate underlying similarities in separation reactions of adults and children, which further legitimize current extrapolations of attachment theory to adults; and (c) to conceptualize the differential reactions of home-based and traveling spouses, thereby extending attachment theory as it applies to adult romantic relationships. It is argued that a more comprehensive approach to the study of love and intimacy in adulthood requires attention to both the attachment and the caregiving systems.122 This document is copyrighted by the American Psychological Association or one of its allied publishers.This article is intended solely for the personal use of the individual user and is not to be disseminated broadly.

An Examination of the Broaden-and-Build Model of Positive Emotions in Military Marriages: An Actor-Partner Analysis

“…For instance, separation due to war was found to contribute to anxiety, anger, depression, loneliness and emotional detachment (Vormbrock, 1993). Anger and combat exposure were found to increase violence and unlawful/antisocial behavior and stress, which in turn, adversely affected marital quality and stability among Vietnam veterans (Gimbel & Booth, 1994).…”

Relational savoring in long-distance romantic relationships

“…Intuitively, LDRs seem as though they would be less satisfying to romantic partners than geographically close relationships (GCRs) simply because face-to-face interaction is scarce, communication may be more difficult, and the financial burdens associated with the relationship may be greater (Stafford, 2005;Stafford & Merolla, 2007). These stressors have the potential to generate downstream psychological effects related to the physical separation, such as concerns regarding loyalty, fidelity, and commitment to the relationship of one's partner (Pistole, 2010;Roberts & Pistole, 2009;Vormbrock, 1993). And yet, research suggests that many LDRs fare well in terms of standard relationship metrics: LDR members report comparable or even greater satisfaction, trust, stability, and intimacy as compared to members of GCRs (Jiang & Hancock, 2013;Roberts & Pistole, 2009;Stafford, 2005Stafford, , 2010.…”

Affective Processing Following Romantic Relationship Dissolution

“…As suggested in the section on post-divorce grief, attachment theory has much to say about how adults respond when a relationship ends (Fraley & Shaver, 1999;Hazan & Shaver, 1992;Weiss, 1975Weiss, , 2001. Despite the importance of separation distress as the best indicator of an attachment bond , strikingly little work is dedicated to decision-based termination of relationships (cf., Vormbrock, 1993). As mentioned in the previous section, Bowlby (1980) believed that normative grief involves a sequenced set of behaviors characterized primarily by protest, despair, and reorganization.…”

“…As mentioned in the previous section, Bowlby (1980) believed that normative grief involves a sequenced set of behaviors characterized primarily by protest, despair, and reorganization. Although the notion that individuals move through strict, welldelineated phases or stages following loss has received considerable criticism (Stroebe, Hansson, Stroebe, & Schut, 2001;Vormbrock, 1993), a fair amount of evidence indicates that primates and other mammals do exhibit a biphasic behavioral reaction to separation events. With respect to the sequence of mourning, Bowbly (1961) made the following observations:…”

“…In their most current review of the myths of coping with loss, Wortman and Silver (2001) contend that studying how individuals grieve permanent change, such as bodily function, cognitive capacity, or the death of a loved one, provides an excellent means for examining the basic processes of stress and coping. In addition, investigators increasingly acknowledge that how individuals cope with or grieve potentially revocable losses, such as the dissolution of romantic bonds, represents an equally important area of study (Crosby, Lybarger, and Mason, 1986;Emery 1994;Hazan & Shaver, 1992;Weiss, 1974Weiss, , 1988Weiss, , 2001 and one that can inform research on both attachment and emotion regulation (Fraley & Shaver, 1999;Vormbrock, 1993). 1 A thorough understanding of grief cross-cuts many different areas of psychological science.…”