Marital Strengths Correlated to Well-Being in Military Couples — ASN Events
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  2. Podium - Teaching Positive Psychology Online, Statistical Case Study of Wellbeing, Marital Strengths in Military Couples, REVAMPing PERMA
  3. Marital Strengths Correlated to Well-Being in Military Couples

Marital Strengths Correlated to Well-Being in Military Couples (#251)

Stephen V. Bowles 1 , Francesca M. Gualano 2 , Evan Hughes 1 , Donavan Hoffman 3 , Dani Schwartz 1
  1. National Defense University, Washington, District of Columbia, United States
  2. Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, Nultey, New Jersey, USA
  3. George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Background

Martial deployment stressors that have been identified are separation, managing family problems, infidelity, family celebrations, and combat injuries while apart (Bowles et al, 2015; Menestrel & Kizer, 2019). Positive Psychology has been engaged in resilience building in the military and research to enhance resilience and mitigate stress (Chopik et al, 2020; Hassett et al., 2019; Lester et al, 2021; Reivich, Seligman, & McBride, 2011). Diener and colleagues (2009) have called for a better understanding of the mechanism within demographic variables such as marriage and its relationship to well-being. These strength mechanisms of family cohesion and flexibility have been identified as strengths for military couples in previous literature and in couples civilian research (Bowles et al, 2015; Tramonti et al, 2019).

Aims

This research aims to examine the relationship of the cohesion and flexibility strength mechanisms with positive emotional well-being in military couples.

Methods

Sixty-five military couples participated in a cross-sectional study. The data was collected on injured service member and their spouse at a medical center and the remaining participants data was gathered at a military installation. We used the FACES-IV (examining family cohesion/flexibility), and Work Life Well Being Inventory (emotional well-being) scale. 

Results

The study found that cohesion has a significant relationship with emotional well-being (β = 0.3657, p = 0.0002). An increase in cohesion was associated with increased emotional well-being. The study also found that flexibility has a significant relationship with well-being (β = 0.2216, p = 0.0240). Thus, an increase in flexibility was associated with increased emotional well-being.

Conclusion

The study highlighting these strengths and the possibility more military couples may be able to function with positive well-being through the deployment cycles. Injured service members and their spouse may better transition from the military if offered training in these areas. Future research should examine these strength mechanisms with a larger sample over time and assess if those trained in these strengths would sustain well-being.

 

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