Technologically Mediated Communication among Military Spouses: The Role of New Media and Mobile Technologies during Wartime Deployment

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2014

Abstract

The American military presence during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan presented both opportunities and challenges to communication for key constituencies including loved ones, family members, and spouses. This contemporary era of wars is distinguished by having service persons participate in reoccurring and longer deployments, thus adding strain within their familial or marital relationships and increasing the already-complicated work-life balance for military personnel and their loved ones. This novel demand in military professional duties makes effective relational maintenance and family norms difficult to establish. Nonetheless, this era of conflict juxtaposes with exceptional innovation of new media, providing opportunities for cutting-edge means and channels by which to enact interpersonal communication. This study examines the uses and impact of new media within military marriages during the context of wartime deployment using the framework of media richness theory. Interviews with ten military spouses yield three key themes regarding their use of new media during wartime deployment: (a) mobility; (b) monitoring and surveillance; and (c) utility. Keywords: new media, mobile technology, relational maintenance, military spouses, deployment, technologically mediated communication.

Publication Title

The Journal of Communications Media Studies

Volume

6

Issue

1

First Page

51

Last Page

69

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