Negative non-deployment emotions, substance use, and marital satisfaction among never-deployed military couples

< .05). However, significant interaction models indicated that wives had lower marital satisfaction when their husbands had high levels of negative NDE and used alcohol or drugs. This suggests a synergistic effect; negative non-deployment emotions combined with higher substance use among soldiers may contribute to lower marital satisfaction among wives. Military organizations should consider ways to better support never-deployed soldiers, develop approaches to help mitigate feelings of reduced camaraderie or belonging, and explore ways to better support military couples.