Relationship Difficulties Among U.K. Military Personnel: Impact of Sociodemographic, Military, and Deployment-Related Factors

Keeling, Mary; Wessely, Simon; Dandeker, Christopher; Jones, Norman; Fear, Nicola T.

Abstract

© 2015, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. Military work, especially operational deployments, may impact the romantic relationships of military personnel. Using a subsample of 7,581 participants from a cohort study of U.K. military personnel (data collected between 2007 and 2009), the prevalence of relationship difficulties and associations with sociodemographic, military-, and deployment-related characteristics was examined. Most participants did not report experiencing relationship difficulties. Adjusted regression analyses indicate that childhood adversity, limited support for and from partners, being in unmarried relationships, financial problems, deploying for more than 13 months in 3 years, and work being above trade, ability, and experience were key factors associated with relationship difficulties. The likelihood of U.K. military personnel experiencing relationship difficulties is increased because of personal vulnerabilities that may be exacerbated in the military context.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 1, 2014
• Online Publication Date: May 6, 2015
• Publication Date: May 6, 2015
• Deposit Date: Dec 18, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 18, 2018
• Journal: Marriage and Family Review
• Print ISSN: 0149-4929
• Electronic ISSN: 1540-9635
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 51
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 275-303
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01494929.2015.1031425
• Keywords: military marriages, U.K. military, marital relationships, marriage and war, visible difference
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/842754
• Publisher URL: http://doi.org/10.1080/01494929.2015.1031425
• Additional Information: Additional Information : This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Marriage & Family Review on 6th May 2015, available online: http://doi.org/10.1080/01494929.2015.1031425.
• Contract Date: Dec 18, 2018