Freytes I Magaly, LeLaurin Jennifer H, Zickmund Susan L, Resende Rosana D, Uphold Constance R
Center of Innovation on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (CINDRR), North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System.
Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VA Pittsburgh Health Care System.
Am J Orthopsychiatry. 2017;87(2):149-156. doi: 10.1037/ort0000211.
Veterans with family support have better functional recovery and reintegration outcomes. However, families' ability to support the veteran with PTSD's rehabilitation and reintegration oftentimes is hindered by interpersonal challenges. We report findings of a qualitative study that examined OEF/OIF veterans with PTSD/TBI and their significant others' (SOs') perceptions of family functioning. We conducted 24 in-depth interviews with 12 veteran/SO dyads using an adapted version of the Family Assessment Device Structured Interview. Descriptive qualitative analytic methods were used to analyze the data. Data show that the impact of deployment and the resulting changes in the individuals and the family dynamics lingered years after the veterans returned home and had a lasting influence on veterans' and SOs' perceptions of family functioning. Most couples acknowledged growth in their relationships several years postdeployment. However, many continued to struggle with disruptions generated by deployment. Four themes emerged from the data: individual changes, coping strategies, relationship changes, and a "new normal." Postdeployment family functioning was influenced by a dynamic interplay of individual and relationship factors and the development of coping strategies and a new normal. This study contributes to the understanding of the prolonged postdeployment family reintegration experiences of veterans and their SOs. Findings underscore the importance of continuing to advance the current knowledge base about the long-term impact of deployment on veterans and their families, especially factors that contribute to positive postdeployment family functioning. Additional empirical studies are needed to provide more in-depth understanding of the long-term postdeployment reintegration experiences of veterans and their families. (PsycINFO Database Record
有家庭支持的退伍军人功能恢复和重新融入社会的结果更好。然而，家庭支持患有创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）退伍军人康复和重新融入社会的能力常常受到人际挑战的阻碍。我们报告了一项定性研究的结果，该研究调查了患有创伤后应激障碍/创伤性脑损伤（PTSD/TBI）的伊拉克自由行动/持久自由行动（OEF/OIF）退伍军人及其重要他人（SOs）对家庭功能的看法。我们使用家庭评估设备结构化访谈的改编版，对12对退伍军人/重要他人进行了24次深入访谈。采用描述性定性分析方法对数据进行分析。数据显示，部署的影响以及个人和家庭动态由此产生的变化在退伍军人回家多年后依然存在，并对退伍军人和重要他人对家庭功能的看法产生了持久影响。大多数夫妻承认在部署几年后他们的关系有所成长。然而，许多人仍在与部署带来的干扰作斗争。数据中出现了四个主题：个人变化、应对策略、关系变化和“新常态”。部署后的家庭功能受到个人和关系因素的动态相互作用以及应对策略和新常态发展的影响。这项研究有助于理解退伍军人及其重要他人在部署后长期的家庭重新融入经历。研究结果强调了继续推进当前关于部署对退伍军人及其家庭长期影响的知识库的重要性，特别是有助于部署后家庭功能良好的因素。需要更多的实证研究来更深入地了解退伍军人及其家庭在部署后长期的重新融入经历。（PsycINFO数据库记录）
