AMEDD Center & SchoolDept of Preventive Health Services Soldier & Family Support Branch

Army Divorce Rates

MAJ (P) Sheila Adams, PhD, LCSW, BCD

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References

1. Army G1

2. http://www.armyg1.army.mil/hR/demographics.asp

3. MHAT 2007 & 2008

4. Briana, S. et al. (2007) The impact of individual trauma symptoms of deployed Soldiers on relationship satisfaction, Journal of Family Psychology, 21;3, 344-353.

5. Renshaw et a.. (2008). Psychological Symptoms and marital satisfaction in spouses of Operation Iraq Freedom: Relationships with spouse perceptions of veteran experiences and symptoms. Journal of Family Psychology, 22;35 86-594.

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References (cont.)

7. Nelson Goff, B. S. & Smith, D. (2005). Systemic Traumatic stress: The couple adaption to traumatic stress model. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 31, 145-157.

8.Dekel, R., Solomon, X & Bleich, A. (2005). Emotional distress and marital adjustment of caregivers: Contribution of level of impairment and appraised burden. Anxiety, Stress, and Coping, 18, 71-82.

9. Casey et. al (2008). An examination of family adjustment among operation desert storm veterans. Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology, 76;4, 648-656.

10. King, L.A. & King, D. w. (2204). Male-perpetrated domestic violence: Testing a series of multifactorial family models. In B. Fisher (Ed.). Developments in research practice & policy (report no. 199712).

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BRIEFING OUTLINE

• Fact or Myth

• Army Divorce Rates

• Exercise

• Theoretical Perspectives

• Impact on Mission Readiness

• Way Ahead

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Fact or Myth (1 of 2)

Civilian vs. Army

• Divorce rates are rising.

• Nearly half of marriages end in divorce.

• 2nd marriages tend to be more successful than first marriages.

• Living together reduces the chance of divorce.

Reference: David Popenoe, the National Marriage Project at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J. (2002)

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Fact or Myth (2 of 2)

Civilian vs. Army• Divorce cause problems for children but they are not long

lasting.

• Following divorce, the children involved are better off in stepfamilies than in single-parent families.

• Being very unhappy at certain points in a marriage is a good sign that the marriage will eventually end in divorce.

• It is usually men who initiate divorce proceedings.

Reference: David Popenoe, the National Marriage Project at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J. (2002)

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Army Demographics

• Over 1,000,000 Soldiers

• 539,675 Soldiers– Women comprise 15.4% of Army strength

• 56% of Soldiers married (N=303,929)– 58% Males

– 42% Females

• 5% Male Dual Active Duty

• 38% Female Dual Active Duty

• 5% Males Single w/ Children

• 14% Females Single w/ Children

Reference: G1 Army Demographics, Sept. 2008.

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Army Demographics

• Legend– Married to Civilian – C

• Male Soldiers• Female Soldiers

– Joint Military Marriage - J

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Active-Duty Army Divorce Rates by Marriage Type FY04-FY08

Female Enlisted

10.210.39.79.8

8.57.26.8

5.75.44.7

0.0

2.0

4.06.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

FY04

FY05

FY06

FY07

FY08

% D

ivo

rce

Male Officers

1.6 1.6 1.71.9

5.7

3.732.73.24.8

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

FY04

FY05

FY06

FY07

FY08

% D

ivo

rce

Female Officers

5.64.65.0

5.3

9.3

3.4 3.3 3.54.6

4.3

0.02.04.06.08.0

10.012.0

FY04

FY05

FY06

FY07

FY08

% D

ivo

rce

Male Enlisted

2.82.62.52.82.9

6.25.7

5.34.34.2

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

FY 04 FY 05 FY 06 FY 07 FY08

% D

ivo

rce

C

C

C

C

J

J

J

J

Divorce rates for males in dual military marriages were

higher than the rates for males married to civilians

Females with civilianspouses had the highest

rate of divorce

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Army Enlisted Divorces by Deployment StatusFY02 - FY08

5.7

10.510.49.79.6

7.68.2

7.47.1

6.7

5.4

6.8 7.1 6.8

3.1

2.5

2.32.9 3 2.7 2.9

2.42.43.1 2.7

2.3 2.5

2.4

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

FY02

FY03

FY04

FY05

FY06

FY07

FY08

% D

ivor

ced

Female deployedFemale non-deployedMale deployedMale non-deployed

Since 04, the gap in divorce rates between

deployed and non-deployed enlisted

females has increased significantly.

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Army Officer Divorces by Deployment Status FY02 - FY08

10.5

7

9.2

6.35.9

5.36

4

2.93.23.9

7.3

5.14

1.81.81.72.2

6.3

3.4

1.9

1.61.11.51.8

2.8

5.2

1.6

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

FY 02 FY 03 FY 04 FY 05 FY 06 FY 07 FY 08

% D

ivor

ced

TAB C

Deployed female officers have a higher divorce rate than non-

deployed female officers.

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Divorce Statistics Pre 9/11* Today

Female enlisted 4.4% 9.1%

Female officers 4.1% 5.2%

Male enlisted 1.9% 3.0%

Male officers 1.8% 1.8%

*FY01 rates

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Demographic Trends – What does it Mean?

• The demographic statistics don't explain the reason for marriage failure.

• Civilian research fall short in understanding Army population

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Study

• Sample– 45 Male Soldiers

– 45 Female Spouses

• Mostly recruited from Ft Riley (91%) & Ft Leavenworth area

• Average length of deployment 10 months

• Average relationship 5 years

Briana, S. et al. (2007) The impact of individual trauma symptoms of deployed Soldiers on relationship satisfaction, Journal of Family Psychology, 21;3, 344-353

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Study (cont.)

• Family adjustment problems continuously documented among returning active duty veterans

• Increased post deployment rates of PTSD symptoms, depression and anxiety documented after OIF/OEF & Afghanistan.

• Increased post deployment mental health concerns evident in OIF/OEF Soldiers and their spouses or relationship non existence

• Findings– Soldiers trauma symptoms predicted lower relationship satisfaction– Depression & anxiety symptoms did not predict relationship satisfaction– Individual trauma, sexual problems , dissociation , & sleep disturbances

significant predictors of lower marital satisfaction

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Exercise

• Provide 3-5 different theoretical perspectives on why Female Soldiers married to Civilians experience a higher rate of divorce than Male Soldiers married to Civilian Spouses in the Army.

• Provide a brief explanation on why deployment may have more of a negative impact on a female’s Soldiers relationship than a male Soldier.

• Why do you think that Male Soldiers married to Civilian Spouses have a lower rate of divorce overall.

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At Risk Population – Female Soldiers

• Break away from traditional family roles– Social Desirability (Female hero vs. male caretaker)

• Jealousy issues

• Infidelity

• Women more likely to exhibit PTSD symptoms after deployment

• Military life more difficult for civilian husband– Work disruption/change

– Less likely to identify with military culture• Military groups more likely to reach out to civilian wives

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Risk Factors Empirically Supported

• Military Specific– Multiple deployers reported higher acute stress than first-

time deployers.

– Deployment length was related to higher rates of mental-health problems and marital problems.

– Trauma symptoms predict lower relationship satisfaction for male Soldiers & their spouses.

– Sexual problems, dissociation & sleep disturbance predict lower relationship satisfaction

– Male veterans with PTSD are more likely to have a spouse that report marital dissatisfaction and higher levels of psychological & interpersonal distress

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Risk FactorsEmpirically Supported

• Combat exposure + PTSD symptoms = Poor family adjustment---male & female Soldiers (ODS veterans)

• Trauma experience + sleep problems, dissociation, & sexual problems = lower relationship satisfaction

• Emotional numbing symptoms is a robust predictor of poorer relationship adjustment (WWII ex-prisoners)

• Hyper arousal symptoms are a stronger predictor of intimate partner violence

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Reasons for Divorce (1 of 3)

• Lack of commitment to the marriage

• Lack of communication between spouses

• Infidelity

• Abandonment

• Alcohol Addiction

• Substance Abuse

• Physical Abuse

• Sexual Abuse

• Emotional Abuse

• Inability to manage or resolve conflict

• Personality Differences or ‘irreconcilable differences’

• Differences in personal and career goals

• Financial problems

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Reasons for Divorce (2 of 3)

• Different expectations about having or rearing children

• Interference from parents or in-laws

• Lack of maturity

• Intellectual Incompatibility

• Sexual Incompatibility

• Insistence of sticking to traditional roles and not allowing room for personal growth

• Falling out of love

• Religious conversion or religious beliefs

• Cultural and lifestyle differences

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Reasons for Divorce (3 of 3)

• Inability to deal with each other’s petty idiosyncrasies

• Mental Instability or Mental Illness

• Criminal behavior and incarceration for crime

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Way AheadResearch

• Tracking Trends

• Identify Targeted Groups

• Empirical explanations

specific to military populations– Resiliency Centered– Problem Centered

• Develop Targeted Intervention

Methods– Prevention – Resiliency focused– Treatment – Proven effective

Methods

• Evaluate effectiveness

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Way AheadPrevention & Intervention Professionals

• Education & awareness

• Assessment strategies– Reliable & valid assessment tools

– Routinely monitor for risk factors in military couples

• Relevant information specific to their situation

• Target Intervention approach– Workshops for Women & Civilian Spouses

• Encourage personal responsibility

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QUESTIONS???