title: Positive and negative consequences of a military deployment.
abstract: This study determined the perception by 951 U.S. Army soldiers of positive and negative consequences of a peacekeeping deployment to Bosnia. Seventy-seven percent reported some positive consequences, 63% reported a negative consequence, and 47% reported both. Written comments were also provided. Of the 951 soldiers, 478 wrote at least one positive comment and 403 at least one negative comment. Single soldiers were more likely than married soldiers to report positive consequences (82% vs. 72%). Married soldiers were more likely than single soldiers to report negative consequences (70% vs. 55%). Positive consequences included making additional money, self-improvement, and time to think. Negative consequences included the military chain of command, being away from home, and deterioration of marital/significant other relationships.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA. jnewby@usuhs.mil
authors.forename: John H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Newby
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: McCarroll
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Ursano
authors.forename: Zizhong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shigemura
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tucker-Harris
mesh_terms: D001290:Attitude; D017522:Bosnia and Herzegovina; D003625:Data Collection; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology; D008887:Military Medicine; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012847:Single Person / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*; D014481:United States