The expressions for the Rayleigh range zR, the turbulence distance zT and the far-field angle θ of Gaussian array beams propagating through non-Kolmogorov turbulence are derived. Influence of generalized exponent factor α of the atmospheric power spectrum and the type of beam combinations on the spreading of Gaussian array beams is studied. It is shown that for both coherent and incoherent combinations, the dependence of zR, zT and θ on α is not monotonic. When α=3.108, zR and zT reach their minima, and θ reaches its maximum. This means that the spreading is largest, and the spreading is enormously affected by turbulence when α=3.108. For the incoherent combination the spreading is larger than that for the coherent combination, but for the incoherent combination the spreading is less affected by turbulence than that for the coherent combination. It may be that, for the small free-space diffraction we have zT zR, i.e., the spreading is affected by turbulence within the Rayleigh range; for the large free-space diffraction we have zT > zR, i.e., the spreading is less affected by the turbulence within the Rayleigh range.