title: The Influence of Social Support on Dyadic Functioning and Mental Health Among Military Personnel During Postdeployment Reintegration.
abstract: Although many service members successfully cope with exposure to stress and traumatic experiences, others have symptoms of depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anxiety; contextual factors may account for the variability in outcomes from these experiences. This work sought to understand mechanisms through which social support influences the mental health of service members and whether dyadic functioning mediates this relationship.
  
  
  
  We collected cross-sectional data as part of a larger study conducted in 2013; 321 military personnel who had at least 1 deployment were included in these analyses. Surveys were completed online; we collected data on demographic characteristics, social support, mental health measures (depression, PTSD, and anxiety), and dyadic functioning. We performed process modeling through mediation analysis.
  
  
  
  The direct effects of social support on the mental health of military personnel were limited; however, across all types of support networks, greater social support was significantly associated with better dyadic functioning. Dyadic functioning mediated the relationships between social support and depression/PTSD only when social support came from nonmilitary friends or family; dyadic functioning mediated social support and anxiety only when support came from family. We found no indirect effects of support from military peers or military leaders.
  
  
  
  Findings here highlight the need to continue to explore ways in which social support, particularly from family and nonmilitary-connected peers, can bolster healthy intimate partner relationships and, in turn, improve the well-being of military service members who are deployed.
authors.affiliation: 1 School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cederbaum
authors.affiliation: 1 School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.|2 Center for Innovation and Research on Military Veterans and Families, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Sherrie L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Wilcox
authors.affiliation: 1 School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Kathrine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.affiliation: 1 School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Carrie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lucas
authors.affiliation: 1 School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.|2 Center for Innovation and Research on Military Veterans and Families, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Ashley
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schuyler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008603:Mental Health; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: PTSD; anxiety; depression; dyadic functioning; reintegration; social support