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Article
Help-Seeking Among Airmen in Distressed Relationships: Promoting Relationship Well-Being
Psychotherapy
  • Douglas K. Snyder
  • Christina Balderrama-Durbin
  • Jeffrey A. Cigrang, Wright State University
  • G. Wayne Talcott
  • Amy M. Smith Slep
  • Richard E. Heyman
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-1-2016
Abstract

Although a substantial proportion of service members returning from a combat deployment report individual emotional and behavioral disorders as well as intimate relationship difficulties, previous studies indicate that only a minority actually seek mental health services. Little is known about factors that predict help-seeking in this population. We first review key findings from the literature on help-seeking in military and veteran populations, including mixed findings regarding the role of perceived stigma and attitudes toward mental health treatment. We then present data from a longitudinal study of United States Air Force Security Forces following a year-long high-risk deployment to Iraq—including findings regarding who seeks help, for what problems, and from which providers. We also examine whether these findings differ for Airmen in a married or committed relationship versus nonpartnered Airmen and, for the former group, whether findings differ for those in a distressed versus nondistressed relationship. Finally, we discuss implications of these findings for extending couple-based interventions to service members and veterans, and describe a multitiered “stepped” approach for promoting relationship resiliency.

DOI
10.1037/pst0000045
Citation Information
Douglas K. Snyder, Christina Balderrama-Durbin, Jeffrey A. Cigrang, G. Wayne Talcott, et al.. "Help-Seeking Among Airmen in Distressed Relationships: Promoting Relationship Well-Being" Psychotherapy Vol. 53 Iss. 1 (2016) p. 1 - 12 ISSN: 00333204
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/jeffrey_cigrang/32/