Publication year
2014
Citation Title
A qualitative study of single-trauma and dual-trauma military couples
Journal Name
Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy
Journal Volume
6
Issue Number
3
Page Numbers
216-233
DOI
10.1037/a0036697
Summary
Trauma survivors and their partners may have relationship challenges due to their traumatic experiences. Military couples in which one or both of the partners had experienced a traumatic event were interviewed to better understand the association between traumatic experiences and relationship functioning. Themes from the interviews were compared and contrasted between single trauma and dual-trauma couples.
Key Findings
Both single-trauma and dual-trauma couples used positive (e.g., faith, social support, and counseling) and negative (e.g., withdrawal) coping strategies to deal with their past traumas.
In dual-trauma couples communication problems were identified as a barrier to successful relationship functioning.
Couples, who have both experienced trauma, alter their behavior to avoid trauma-related triggers.
Implications for Program Leaders
Include modules that enhance positive coping strategies to deal with traumatic events such as developing a social support system
Educate couples who have a history of trauma before deployment on positive coping skills
Provide education to military couples to enhance positive communication skills such as addressing issuesdirectly and taking the other’s perspective
Implications for Policy Makers
Encourage Services members and their partners be screened for trauma experiences before deployment to help them better prepare for the upcoming transition
Suggest that non-clinical providers be trained in identifying trauma-related triggers and how to give couples tools to deal with the identified triggers
Continue to recommend Service members receive treatment for maladaptive responses to trauma after returning from deployment
Methods
Participants were recruited from two small cities in the Midwest through flyers, newspaper announcements, and referrals from Army Family Readiness Groups.
Data were collected through an initial telephone screening and separate in-person interviews with each partner.
Multiple coders identified different themes in the responses from the interviews. Data were analyzed by identifying themes that arose in the interviews of single-trauma versus dual-trauma couples.
Participants
The mean age of the participants was 31 years old.
Participants included five single-trauma and six dual-trauma couples with 11 male Soldiers and 11 female spouses.
The racial background of the participants consisted of 82% White, 9% African?American, and 9% Native American/Alaska Native.
Limitations
The impact of multiple deployments on marital adjustment is unknown for these participants because it was not specified how many deployments they had experienced.
Information about preexisting mental health diagnoses was not available; results may not be generalizable to a clinical sample.
Only separate partner interviews were conducted and a joint couple interview may have provided more insight about the couple’s functioning and interactions.
Avenues for Future Research
Examine a clinical sample to assess whether the themes in this study apply to couples with a mental health diagnosis as well
Utilize a longitudinal study to explore how previous trauma experiences and current trauma experiences can affect the couple’s relationship over time
Explore how communication problems and trauma triggers may directly impact couple functioning
Focus
Army
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Branch
Military Component
Abstract
Trauma survivors and their partners may experience unique dynamics because of the ongoing effects of previous trauma exposure and current trauma symptoms. The current qualitative study attempted to compare and contrast single-trauma couples (1 partner reports a trauma history or high-traumatic load) with dual-trauma couples (both partners report a trauma history or high traumatic load) to further understand the systemic effects on couple functioning in a sample of military couples. Overall, both positive and negative effects from previous trauma on the couple relationship were reported by participants, including increased awareness, communication, support, coping strategies, and trauma related triggers, with dual-trauma couples reporting more trauma-related triggers and communication problems. Clinical and research implications for further study are described.
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