Critical Summary

Frisby, B. N., Byrnes, K., Mansson, D. H., Booth-Butterfield, M., & Birmingham, M. K. (2011). Topic avoidance, everyday talk, and stress in romantic military and non-military couples. Communication Studies, 62, 241-257.

Birmingham, Booth-Butterfield, Byrnes, Frisby and Mansson, (2011) focused on everyday talk, topic avoidance and stress of those romantically involved in military relationship and those involved in non-military relationships. The first key opponent is topic avoidance along with the hypothesis; Military couples will engage in more topic avoidance than non-military couples (Birmingham, Booth-Butterfield, Byrnes, Frisby and Mansson, 2011). In an outside study, researchers Merolla and Steinberg conducted interviews with military partners who tend to disclosed information in regards to pre-deployment to avoid talking about the negative issues and distractions that occur when communicating with their partners. Researchers found that wives withhold information from their military partners to protectively buffer them from stressors that may add to the occupational stress the military partners already experienced. Topic avoidance is often commonly seen in any romantic relationship, but research shows it’s mostly common in those who are involved in a romantic military relationships (Birmingham, Booth-Butterfield, Byrnes, Frisby and Mansson, 2011).
The second opponent is everyday talk, which consists of regular conversations between partners, such as making plans, gossiping, and complaining. The main research question is; do military and non-military couples differ in their frequency of everyday talk? (Birmingham, Booth-Butterfield, Byrnes, Frisby and Mansson, 2011). The final opponent is stress. Being in a romantic military relationship can be stressful as one partner is often left to manage the home, worrying about partner’s safety and coping with the distance. Researchers found that the military partners experienced increased stress symptoms when their military partner was stressed post deployment. Non-military couples may experience a host of different equally stressful events such as children, work and long distance relationships.
The method used is snowball- sampling techniques. The research team sent recruitment messages using social networks such as Facebook. The survey was done through an online survey host called SurveyMonkey. Participants were required to be 18 years of age or older and romantically involved with someone in the military. The military participants (5 males, 113 females) ranged in age from 18 to 59 years. And for participants in the non-military relationship, researcher asked students from a university to assist them. The non-military participants (34 males, 59 females, and one person who did not report his or her biological sex) ranged in age from 18 to 55 years. These students agreed to participate were asked to deliver surveys to someone who met the research criteria: 18 years of age or older, in a romantic relationship and both partners were not afflicted with a military background. The survey was modified so it would not ask questions in regards to deployment and other military related issues. (Birmingham, Booth-Butterfield, Byrnes, Frisby and Mansson, 2011).
The results are divided into the 3 main opponents’ topic avoidance, everyday talk and stress. The first research question inquired about differences in topic avoidance between military and non-military couples (Birmingham, Booth-Butterfield, Byrnes, Frisby and Mansson, 2011). The research stated that both military and non-military couples avoided discussing prior dating relationships most often. Hypothesis predicted that military couples would avoid topics more than non-military couples. A multivariate analysis of variance was conducted with relationship couple type entered as the fixed factor and each type of topic avoidance entered as the dependent variables in order to find the answer to this hypothesis (Birmingham, Booth-Butterfield, Byrnes, Frisby and Mansson, 2011). In the end the hypothesis was not supported; researchers found non-military couple engaged in topic avoidance significantly more than military couples. Research questions two and three asked whether military and non-military couples differ in the frequency of everyday talk and the importance of everyday talk. Testing involving both types of couples determined and answered that military and non-military couples did not differ in the amount of everyday talk in which they engaged, but military couple partners found these everyday interactions to be more important (Birmingham, Booth-Butterfield, Byrnes, Frisby and Mansson, 2011).
Research question four asked about how stress levels differ between non-military and military couples. An analysis of variance with four groups (pre-deployment, deployment, post-deployment, and no deployment for non-military couples) was entered as the independent variable and stress entered as the dependent variable (Birmingham, Booth-Butterfield, Byrnes, Frisby and Mansson, 2011). The finding stated both members involved in military relationships experienced no significant differences in stress in the four main groups’ pre-deployment, deployment, post-deployment, and no deployment. Hypothesis two predicted that topic avoidance and everyday talk would predict the stress experienced in both military and non-military couples (Birmingham, Booth-Butterfield, Byrnes, Frisby and Mansson, 2011). To prove this hypothesis, researchers conducted two separate regressions that utilized the main differences with topic avoidance and everyday talk were entered as independent variables and stress entered as the dependent variable. The findings showed military romantic partners who do not engage in everyday talk frequently tend to avoid more topics and experience higher levels of stress.
The strengths within the research are snowball- sampling techniques. It allows the researchers to reach populations that are difficult to sample, its also simple and cost-efficient. I feel it was smart to use social networks such as Facebook in order to find those who are willing to participate; it’s a great way to get a variety of males and females especially of those who may be deployment. A weakness with snowball sampling is researchers have little control over the sampling method. Another weakness is the military sample participants were primarily female partners. Perceptions of topic avoidance and everyday talk were only gathered from one’s perspective in the relationships, which was mainly a female’s perception. I would have liked to seen equal perceptions from both males and females. One main difference within the research is the partners involved in a relationship with a military member completed an online survey, while those involved in a non-military relationship completed an identical version of the survey on paper. I feel some factors may impact the results such as participant fatigue and limit access only to those partners how have Internet access. In conclusion I feel this study was well conducted and will be beneficial in conducting my own research on communication within military families and couples.