Publication year
2006
Citation Title
The effects of trauma on intimate relationships: A qualitative study with clinical couples
Journal Name
American Journal of Orthopsychiatry
Journal Volume
76
Issue Number
4
Page Numbers
451-460
DOI
10.1037/0002-9432.76.4.451
Summary
Most research focuses on the negative impact of trauma on relationships; however, it is possible that trauma may also have some positive relationship effects. Interviews of trauma-exposed couples were coded for themes of the effect of trauma on their relationships. Both positive and negative relationship themes were commonly found, and couples often reported positive and negative impacts within the same domain (e.g., communication, connection, understanding).
Key Findings
Couples reported that trauma had both negative (e.g., sexual intimacy problems, decreased communication) and positive (e.g., increased support and understanding) relationship impacts.
The most common relationship themes included increased or decreased communication, connection, and understanding, sexual intimacy problems, relationship distress, partner support, and relationship resources.
Couples often reported having both increased and decreased communication, connection, and understanding within the same relationship as a result of trauma.
Implications for Military Professionals
Help develop online education modules to provide easy access to information about trauma and relationships to military families
Facilitate support groups for military couples experiencing negative relationship impacts due to trauma exposure
Implications for Program Leaders
Educate military couples struggling with trauma histories about effective ways to communicate, support one another, and talk about the trauma and related emotions
Offer post-deployment classes for Service members and spouses to learn to discuss trauma immediately following deployment as an early intervention
Implications for Policy Makers
Recommend education of professionals working with military families about the effects of trauma on relationships, particularly romantic relationships
Continue to support programs, initiatives, and dissemination of research and resources for military families with Service members who have experienced trauma
Methods
Couples in which at least one partner had experienced a trauma and who were receiving therapy at a Midwest university-based counseling center were recruited.
All partners completed semi-structured interviews about current relationship functioning and the impact of trauma on themselves, their partner, and their relationship.
Interview statements were coded based on a secondary trauma themes codebook and themes added by the coding team when necessary; the most common themes were reported.
Participants
Participants included nine couples (N = 18); however, an error was made in one recording, and results are based on 17 interviews of partners in serious relationships lasting at least one year.
Participants had an average age of 34.89 years (SD = 10.20) and an average relationship length of 7.37 years (SD = 9.13); they were either married (78%), dating (11%), or separated (11%).
Participants identified as White (89%), Asian American (6%), and Native American (6%).
The most common traumas included natural disasters (50%), accidents (44%), adult physical abuse (33%), news of a death (28%), and violent crime victimization (22%).
Limitations
Without a non-trauma comparison group, causal conclusions cannot be drawn.
Several themes applied to relationships generally, and it is unclear whether participants differentiated between the effects of trauma or other factors on their relationships.
With the small sample, range of traumatic experiences, and lack of trauma diagnoses, it is unclear how these results would generalize to other couples impacted by trauma.
Avenues for Future Research
Examine relationships longitudinally to understand what factors of individuals and couples impacted by trauma predict relationship outcomes (e.g., satisfaction, breakup, communication)
Compare differences in relationship satisfaction, communication, and understanding between couples with one or both partners having experienced a trauma or with one or multiple traumas
Investigate the effects of relationship difficulties on children of trauma-exposed couples
Focus
Civilian
Target Population
Population Focus
Abstract
Research has traditionally focused on the development of symptoms in those who experienced trauma directly but has overlooked the impact of trauma on victims' families. In recent years, researchers and clinicians have begun to examine how individual exposure to traumatic events affects the spouses or partners, children, and professional helpers of trauma survivors. The current study examines qualitative interview data from 17 individuals, analyzed using a retroductive methodology to identify how intimate relationships are affected when there is a history of trauma exposure. The following primary themes were identified: increased communication, decreased communication, increased cohesion/connection, decreased cohesion/connection, increased understanding, decreased understanding, sexual intimacy problems, symptoms of relationship distress, support from partner, and relationship resources. Areas for future research and clinical implications are identified.
Abstract Document
PRTW Document
Attach