Variables related to the psychological well being of Army wives during the stress of an extended military separation.

Past research has indicated that extended military separations have a profound impact on military wives. The present study examines the relationship between self-esteem, locus of control, accumulated stressors, perceived military stress, and the psychological well-being of 74 Army wives whose husbands were stationed in the Persian Gulf. Accumulated stressors and perceived military stress were able to account for a significant portion of the variance in psychological well-being. This suggests that during an extended separation, the lower the accumulation of stressors and perceived military stress, the greater the psychological well-being of Army wives. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed.