No man left behind: Meanings of masculinity and the military for psychotherapy processes.

摘要

This qualitative research investigation explored the relationship bonds that are formed between men in a military unit during war in order to integrate the findings with the psycho-therapeutic process. Ten individual interviews and two focus group sessions were held, and afterwards an analysis of the content gathered was carried out. The nineteen men that participated were all Puerto Rican veterans of the wars in Iraq and/or Afghanistan. The results of the study indicated that a deep level of love and intimacy was created between these men and the members of their unit, even overcoming differences and gender expectations. Furthermore, these bonds played a large role in the soldier's mental health before, during, and after deployment. For this reason, the importance of considering cohesion during a psycho-therapeutic process was demonstrated.