Citation

Hinojosa R, Hinojosa MS, Högnäs RS. Mil. Med. 2012; 177(2): 191-197.

Affiliation

Rehabilitation Outcomes Research Center (RORC), North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, 1601 SW Archer Road (151B), Gainesville, FL 32608, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Association of Military Surgeons of the United States)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

22360066

Abstract

Twenty Reserve component (Army and Marines) and Army National Guard male veterans of Operational Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom discuss their deployment and postdeployment family reintegration experiences. A Grounded Theory approach is used to highlight some of the ways in which family miscommunication during deployment can occur. Communication with civilian family members is affected by the needs of operational security, technical problems with communication tools, miscommunication between family members, or because veterans have "nothing new to say" to family back home. These communication difficulties may lead to an initial gulf of understanding between veterans and family members that can cause family strain during postdeployment family reintegration. We end with a discussion of veteran family reintegration difficulties.

Language: en