Military Couples' Patterns of Family Work: Associations With Demographic Characteristics and Relational Functioning

Although research documents the demands of military life and the influence these demands can have on family life, little is known about military couples' patterns of family work and how these patterns are associated with their relational functioning. Grounded in the vulnerability stress adaptation model, this study addressed this gap by using a latent profile analysis with dyadic data from 228 United States military couples to identify groupings of couples with distinct patterns of family work, specifically, both partners' parenting work and emotion work. Four profiles emerged. They were distinguishable from each other as less emotionally attentive couples (21%), couples with highly involved mothers (29%), emotionally attentive couples (45%), and couples with highly involved fathers (5%). Group differences between the profiles were examined. Of the demographic characteristics examined, only service members' age varied between the profiles. Service members in the highly involved fathers profile tended to be younger than other profiles. Relationship satisfaction, communication satisfaction, balanced cohesion, and balanced flexibility were significantly lower for service members and civilian spouses in the less emotionally attentive couples profile compared to all other groups. Couples categorized as emotionally attentive averaged higher relational functioning compared to the highly involved mothers profile. Couples in the highly involved fathers profile tended to have relational functioning that was not statistically different from the couples in the emotionally attentive profile or the highly involved mothers profile. The results suggest that interventions that bolster military couples' performance of emotion work may be particularly helpful for relational functioning.