Relational turbulence and psychological distress in romantic relationships in the military

To understand the process of relational turbulence and psychological distress in the context of the military, we used a grounded theory approach to analyze individuals’ experiences in online forums. Analyses revealed a process by which perceived changes in individuals’ romantic partners or their rel...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of social and personal relationships 2020-03, Vol.37 (3), p.942-964
Main Authors: Monk, Kale, Basinger, Erin D., Abendschein, Bryan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Armed forces
Conceptual models
Couples
Grounded theory
Infidelity
Internet
Perceived changes
Psychological distress
Romantic relationships
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Summary:To understand the process of relational turbulence and psychological distress in the context of the military, we used a grounded theory approach to analyze individuals’ experiences in online forums. Analyses revealed a process by which perceived changes in individuals’ romantic partners or their relationships and suspicions of infidelity led to a cycle of turmoil. Participants reported a tension between caring for their partner and upsetting experiences and relational transgressions, which contributed to them feeling caught in the cycle. In addition to feeling conflicted, the cycle of turmoil also encompassed relational turbulence, psychological distress, and fighting between partners. The conceptual model identified in this study has implications for both theory and practice, including underscoring the importance of relational turbulence theory and identifying feeling conflicted as a potentially viable point of intervention.
ISSN:0265-4075
1460-3608
DOI:10.1177/0265407519883701