Depression in the Wives of Nuclear Submarine Personnel

The authors compared levels of depression among 24 wives of nuclear submarine personnel under conditions of husband-presence and husband-absence in a crossover research design. The wives had significantly higher depression scores under conditions of husband-absence on both the Zung Depression Scale and the Multiple Affect Adjective Checklist. The results are discussed in terms of the tremendous stresses imposed on the wives as a result of the nuclear submarine deployment schedule and the failure of the Navy and the spouses to recognize and reward the wivesfor their efforts.