Predictors of reintegration adjustment among female U.S. Army spouses: A preliminary exploration

Introduction: To better understand the experiences of military families during reintegration after a combat deployment, this study considers the role of risk factors such as spouse perceptions of service member mental health and protective factors such as social support in spouses’ sense of preparedness for reintegration and in their perceptions of the length of the reintegration adjustment period. Methods: This study is a secondary analysis of Land Combat Study data collected by the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in 2012. These data were obtained from soldiers from one brigade combat team who had recently completed a combat deployment to Afghanistan and their spouses. Results: Path analysis using data from 333 female U.S. Army spouses suggests that social support was directly associated with spouse perceptions of a shorter reintegration period, and spouse perceptions of their partner’s mental health treatment needs were indirectly associated with a longer reintegration period through their sense of preparedness for reintegration. Discussion: Results highlight military spouses’ subjective readiness for their partners’ return from deployment as an important target for prevention and intervention efforts, particularly for higher-risk families.