title: Stress and coping on the home front: guard and reserve spouses searching for a new normal.
abstract: During deployment of National Guard or reserve troops to Iraq or Afghanistan, spouses on the home front have been largely invisible to our collective consciousness. A total of 18 spouses living in rural Wisconsin were interviewed to identify sources of stress and coping strategies. Stressors varied from predeployment through postdeployment, as did coping responses. During predeployment, spouses articulated that the primary stressor was their lives being "on hold." During deployment, five stressors summarize the experience: worrying, waiting, going it alone, pulling double duty, and loneliness. Communication technology made it possible for most spouses to stay in touch using telephone, e-mail, or even Webcam. Keeping busy-managing personal, family, and household responsibilities-was the most commonly identified coping strategy. Postdeployment was a period of adjustment while couples searched for a new normal. Throughout all deployment phases, skilled and astute nurses can assist families toward health and healing.
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Eau Claire, WI 54702-4004, USA. lappca@uwec.edu
authors.forename: Cheryl Ann
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Lapp
authors.forename: Lois B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Taft
authors.forename: Thora
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tollefson
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hoepner
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Divyak
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003142:Communication; D022143:Family Nursing; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008132:Loneliness / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D012424:Rural Population; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D014922:Wisconsin