Affect, Coping, and Satisfaction with Life Among Military Spouses

Abstract

This study used the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions to examine the relationship between coping strategies and psychological well-being in military spouses. The goal was to determine if positive emotions and depressive symptoms mediate the relationship between coping and life satisfaction. Participants were 221 female military spouses. The results indicated that both task-oriented and avoidance-oriented coping skills exerted indirect effects on an overall sense of life satisfaction through their positive association with positive affect and negative association with depressive symptoms.

Keywords:

• Military spouses
• military family
• satisfaction with life
• coping
• affect
• depression