Emotional Disclosure and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms: Veteran and Spouse Reports

Recent research has shown a relationship between self-disclosure and symptoms of posttraumatic stress in combat veterans. However, previous research has not controlled for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms prior to disclosure, leaving the directionality of this association in question. Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) veteran service members from the Utah National Guard and Reserves (n = 81) and partners of service members (n = 80) completed survey measures of combat exposure, PTSD symptoms, social support, and emotional disclosure at two separate time points after deployment. Greater disclosure of positive emotions regarding combat deployment to support figures without shared combat exposure predicted lower symptoms of PTSD, even when controlling for prior symptoms of PTSD and perceived social support. In contrast, greater disclosure to support figures who also experienced combat predicted greater symptoms of PTSD, even when controlling for prior PTSD symptoms. Disclosure of positive emotions associated with combat deployment may serve as a protective factor against the development and maintenance of posttraumatic stress symptoms, particularly when that disclosure includes individuals without shared deployment experiences.