Publication year
2011
Citation Title
Do secondary trauma symptoms in spouses of combat-exposed national guard soldiers mediate impacts of soldiers' trauma exposure on their children?
Journal Name
Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal
Journal Volume
28
Issue Number
6
Page Numbers
459-473
DOI
10.1007/s10560-011-0243-z
Summary
An exploratory investigation of the associated effects of combat exposure on Soldiers assigned to a Midwestern Army National Guard unit was conducted. In addition, this study tested a hypothetical model which asserted that there are secondary and contributing factors of combat exposure on Soldiers' spouses and children. Overall there is initial evidence to suggest that immediate family members of combat-exposed Soldiers with high levels of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are at risk for developing secondary traumatic stress.
Key Findings
Secondary trauma symptoms in spouses were found to be significantly correlated with posttraumatic stress in Soldiers.
Internalizing problems were found to be symptomatic of secondary trauma stress in children; whereas, externalizing symptoms were not found to be symptomatic of secondary trauma.
Secondary trauma symptoms in spouses are a risk-increasing link between trauma symptoms in combat-exposed Soldiers and secondary trauma symptoms in their children.
Implications for Program Leaders
Provide safe spaces for Soldiers and their families to interact with others who have had similar combat experiences
Develop workshops for professionals who work with Soldiers who have experienced combat related trauma to be able to identify potential PTSD and secondary traumatic stress symptoms and connect the Soldiers and their families to needed resources
Provide screening and support for Soldiers’ children that might be troubled by the negative impact of their parent’s combat trauma
Implications for Policy Makers
Support professional development for professionals who work with military families (e.g., teachers, counselors, social workers) around issues associated with families and secondary trauma symptoms
Continue support for preventive efforts targeted toward all military family members and their relationships in order to lessen the effects of direct and secondary trauma
Develop an awareness campaign around the importance of supporting Soldiers’ families’ well-being
Methods
Participants were recruited through introductory letters from the Army National Guard Brigade Combat Team family program.
A survey was sent out to the 1,011 households, asking Army National Guard Soldiers and their spouses’ questions about deployment(s), PTSD and secondary trauma symptoms, as well as their child’s behavior.
Analysis examined whether or not there were any secondary and contributing factors of combat exposure on Soldier’s spouses and children.
Participants
The sample included 54 couples, all of whom had an Army National Guard Soldier living in their household, a partner residing with them, and at least one child in the home between 2 and 18 years old.
Soldiers identified as White (n = 51), Latino (n = 2), or other (n = 1) and were all male; whereas, all the spouses were female and identified as White (n = 52), Latino (n = 1), and one did not disclose.
Most Soldiers and their spouses had at least some college education, with 16 holding an officer position and 38 with an enlisted role.
Limitations
The National Guard did not have a list of all eligible households; therefore, it was impossible to determine the survey response rate which limits generalizability.
The sample for this study had a high percentage of highly-educated, high ranking Soldiers and their spouses, which is not representative of the enlisted Active Duty Soldier population.
The National Guard unit from which participants were recruited had family programming with a special focus on reunion integration. These protective factors may have made for a healthier sample than other National Guard units and biased the results.
Avenues for Future Research
Replicate this study with the goal of increasing the sample size in order to increase generalizability to other military branches
Examine the long-term factors influencing and related to secondary trauma in Soldiers’ spouses and children
Evaluate what types of programs provide effective prevention of secondary trauma for Soldiers’ spouses and children
Focus
Army
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Branch
Military Component
Abstract
This exploratory study examines the associated effects of combat exposure on Soldiers assigned to a Midwestern Army National Guard unit. It also explores the secondary and mediating effects of combat exposure on Soldier’s spouses and children. The correlations of combat exposure with trauma symptoms, substance abuse, domestic violence and secondary trauma symptoms among family members are identified. Survey results suggest that immediate family members of combat-exposed Soldiers with high levels of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are at risk for developing secondary traumatic stress. Secondary trauma symptoms in these spouses are a risk-increasing mediating variable between trauma symptoms in combat-exposed Soldiers and secondary trauma symptoms in their children. Results from this investigation emphasize the need for further inquiry into this topic. They further highlight the need for preventive and treatment efforts targeted toward all family members and relationships in order to lessen the effects of combat exposure.
Abstract Document
Attach