Couple Functioning and Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms in US Army Couples: The Role of Resilience

Posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) of Service members, as well as their partners' personal history of trauma or secondary trauma symptoms, may combine to decrease couples' functioning. PTSS, relationship functioning, and resilience were examined among couples with at least one member who was deployed with the Army in OEF/OIF. Higher levels of individual PTSS were associated with lower couple functioning; however, individuals with high resilience scores were less likely to have poor couple functioning, regardless of PTSS levels.