Military Family Socialization: An Examination of New U.S. Military Families in Online Forums

Abstract

Adapting to military life can be a challenging transition for new members. Although scholarship has identified socialization processes for individuals, limited literature exists about family adaptation experiences. This study sought to understand how U.S. military family members communicated in online forums about their experiences of entering the military. Using grounded theory to analyze 1,527 pages of discussion boards, this study found that posters experienced a distinct process of socializing to military life wherein individuals navigated clashing trajectories between civilian and military expectations. Findings expand understandings of socialization and offer suggestions for helping families adjust to the armed services.

Department(s)

Communication, Media, Journalism and Film

Document Type

Article

DOI

10.1080/10570314.2022.2146459

Keywords

Families, Military, Online Forums, Socialization

Publication Date

1-1-2023

Journal Title

Western Journal of Communication

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS