Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Soldiers’ Experiences of Being Married and Serving in the British Army

Keeling, Mary; Woodhead, Charlotte; Fear, Nicola T.

Abstract

© 2016, Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. ABSTRACT: Research suggests certain aspects of military life, especially operational deployments, may negatively impact military marriages. However, much of this research is from the United States and uses deductive quantitative methods. Qualitative research investigating the lived experiences of forming and maintaining marriages was conducted with six male U.K. Army personnel. Semistructured interviews were analyzed, using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, identifying five themes, each representing different dilemmas the soldiers’ had to balance to maintain successful marriages and Army careers. These five themes are best understood as practical, emotional, and cultural dilemmas that can be alleviated with practical and emotional methods; such factors could be used to build resilience in soldier’s marriages. These possible resilience factors could shape the content of interventions to increase resiliency in military marriages.

Citation

Keeling, M., Woodhead, C., & Fear, N. T. (2016). Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Soldiers’ Experiences of Being Married and Serving in the British Army. Marriage and Family Review, 52(6), 511-534. https://doi.org/10.1080/01494929.2015.1124353

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 15, 2015
• Publication Date: Aug 17, 2016
• Deposit Date: Dec 17, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 17, 2018
• Journal: Marriage and Family Review
• Print ISSN: 0149-4929
• Electronic ISSN: 1540-9635
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 52
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 511-534
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01494929.2015.1124353
• Keywords: interpretative phenomenological analysis, marital relationships, military marriages, qualitative research, U.K. military personnel, visible difference
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/920419
• Publisher URL: http://doi.org/10.1080/01494929.2015.1124353
• Additional Information: Additional Information : This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Marriage & Family Review on 10th Feb 2016, available online: http://doi.org/10.1080/01494929.2015.1124353.