Moral Injury Amongst Postdeployment Soldiers in Close Relationships: Relational Framing and Communicative Implications

• In Event: Interpersonal Communication in Nontraditional Contexts

Abstract

Despite the rewards of serving one’s country, soldiers must often grapple with guilt, shame, resentment, and disorientation associated with combat-related violence. In turn, soldiers may lose confidence in the significance of morality and their sense of self. Such challenges may impact how the veteran negotiates life with close relational partners. This paper advances a theory of moral injury and presents preliminary data (n = 259) to better understand the relevance of military experience and relational experiences.

Author

• Jennifer A. Samp, U of Georgia