Stress and coping on the home front: guard and reserve spouses searching for a new normal.

During deployment of National Guard or reserve troops to Iraq or Afghanistan, spouses on the home front have been largely invisible to our collective consciousness. A total of 18 spouses living in rural Wisconsin were interviewed to identify sources of stress and coping strategies. Stressors varied from predeployment through postdeployment, as did coping responses.

Supporting spouses during a military deployment.

US National Guard and Reserves members are deploying at the highest rates since World War II, leaving behind spouses in community settings without the full support of the military. Deployment may create or intensify existing stressors to spouses and bring about changes in coping strategies. The goal of this article is to increase the healthcare provider's knowledge about the stressors these spouses may experience and provide resources in case they may require extra support and assistance.