title: Meaningfulness of service and marital satisfaction in Army couples.
abstract: The vast numbers of military service members who have been deployed since 2001 highlights the need to better understand relationships of military couples. A unique consideration in military couples is the concept of meaningfulness of service, or the value service members and their partners place on military service in spite of the sacrifices it requires. In a sample of 606 Army couples, the authors used path analysis to examine how male service members' and female spouses' perceived meaningfulness of service added to the prediction of marital satisfaction in both members of the couple, when accounting for service members' PTSD symptoms. Spouses' perceived meaningfulness of service was linked with higher marital satisfaction in spouses, regardless of service member's perceived meaningfulness of service. Service members' perceived meaningfulness of service was also associated with increased marital satisfaction in service members, but only when their spouses also perceived higher meaningfulness. There were no significant interactions between service members' PTSD and either partner's perceived meaningfulness. Implications for enhanced attention to spousal perceptions of meaningfulness of service are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Bergmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Keith D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Renshaw
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Colorado.
authors.forename: Elizabeth S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Denver.
authors.forename: Howard J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Markman
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Denver.
authors.forename: Scott M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Stanley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008388:Marital Therapy; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology*; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D065840:Protective Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult