Impact of Forward Deployment on Marital Issues Among Forward Deployed Officers and Families

Abstract

Forward deployment is a crucial part of any officer’s career. During this time, the officer is deployed in the forward area, whereas the family stays back. This prolonged separation has the tendency to impact the relationship between spouses, particularly in regard to psychological well-being and marital satisfaction. The study investigates the impact of couple communication on marital satisfaction, psychological attachment, and psychological distress among forward-deployed officers and wives of forward-deployed officers. For this research, both forward-deployed officers and wives of forward-deployed officers were included. A correlational research design was used, and analyses were carried out to explore the relationships between the variables. This study used the Experience in Close Relationship Scale – Short Form (ECR-S), the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), Dutch Marital Satisfaction and Communication Questionnaire (DMSCQ). The sample consisted of 192 participants in total: 76 male officers and 116 female spouses. Results indicated that there is a significant positive correlation between couple communication, marital satisfaction, and psychological attachment. On the other hand, a negative correlation was found between psychological distress and couple communication, along with marital satisfaction. Although the present research focused on key relational variables, future research should incorporate other variables, including conflict resolution styles and attachment patterns to provide comprehensive insights. The findings of this research have practical implications for policy development that will help the forward-deployed officers. Acknowledging the importance of marital dynamics within relationships may lead to more informed decisions for married officers in regard to their deployment.