Military family socialization: An examination of new U.S. military families in online forums
Research Report:
Research SummaryAPA Citation:
Wehrman, E. C. (2023). Military family socialization: An examination of new U.S. military families in online forums. Western Journal of Communication, 87(5), 727-750. https://doi.org/10.1080/10570314.2022.2146459
Abstract Created by REACH:
After joining the military, Service members and their romantic partners must familiarize themselves with military culture to adjust to their new roles. To explore how partners of Service members adapt to military life, qualitative data were collected via online postings from 27 publicly available forums. These posts were analyzed using grounded theory. Overall, 3 themes that described military partners’ adaptation processes emerged: identifying cultural shifts, resituating within the new culture, and adapting to military culture.
Focus:
Couples
Deployment
Branch of Service:
Multiple branches
Military Affiliation:
Active Duty
Subject Affiliation:
Military families
Spouse of service member or veteran
Parent of a service member or veteran
Child of a service member or veteran
Population:
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
Methodology:
Qualitative Study
Authors:
Wehrman, Erin C.
Abstract:
Adapting to military life can be a challenging transition for new members. Although scholarship has identified socialization processes for individuals, limited literature exists about family adaptation experiences. This study sought to understand how U.S. military family members communicated in online forums about their experiences of entering the military. Using grounded theory to analyze 1,527 pages of discussion boards, this study found that posters experienced a distinct process of socializing to military life wherein individuals navigated clashing trajectories between civilian and military expectations. Findings expand understandings of socialization and offer suggestions for helping families adjust to the armed services.
Publication Type:
Article
REACH Publication
Keywords:
families, military, online forums, socialization
REACH Publication Type:
Research Summary
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