Publication year
2010
Citation Title
Psychological and marital distress in spouses of Vietnam veterans: Importance of spouses' perceptions.
Journal Name
Journal of Anxiety Disorders
Journal Volume
24
Issue Number
7
Page Numbers
743-750
DOI
10.1016/j.janxdis.2010.05.007
Summary
An examination of how variables related to Veterans' spouses' perceptions may play a role in their own distress was conducted. More specifically, the study investigated spouses' perceptions of combat Veterans' PTSD symptom severity and what relationships there are to their own well-being. Overall, findings suggest a relationship between spouses' perceptions of Veterans' PTSD severity and their well-being.
Key Findings
Spouses' perceptions of Veterans' symptom severity were associated with spouses' psychological and marital distress; furthermore, spouses' perceptions had an effect upon Veterans' self-reported PTSD severity on spouses' distress.
For spouses who provided complete data with regard to their perceptions of Veterans' PTSD, distress was highest when they perceived high levels of symptoms but Veterans reported low levels.
There wasn't a relationship between spouses' perceptions and Veterans' self-report of symptoms.
Implications for Program Leaders
Continue providing training opportunities for professionals working with Service members and their families to learn ways to develop structures that support families' well-being
Engage Service members' families and friends in workshops on how to support loved ones with PTSD and associated symptoms
Disseminate information to destigmatize depression and PSTD to Service members, their friends, partners, and communities
Implications for Policy Makers
Promote the development of structured workshops for Service members and their partners to provide support for PTSD and related symptoms
Encourage awareness among professionals working with Service members families and communities about the effects of trauma experiences on the well-being of Service members and their families
Methods
Participants were recruited through the Family Interview Component of the National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study.
Veterans were interviewed on topics such as combat experiences, postwar experiences, and psychological functioning. Spouses were interviewed with a focus on their perception of family and marital adjustment.
Analysis explored whether the association of Veterans' self-report of PTSD symptoms with spouses' psychological and marital distress was mediated by spouses' perceptions of Veterans' PTSD symptoms.
Participants
The sample consisted of 375 male and 90 female Veterans who served in the Vietnam War and their opposite sex spouses or partners.
Veterans' ages ranged from 33 to 62 years old; 23.5% were Black, 27.7% Latino, and 48.8% White or other. Spouses' ages ranged from 21 to 73 year old; 19% were Black, 18.6% Latino, and 62.4% White or other.
Ninety-four percent of couples were married, and the average length of marriage was 14 years.
Limitations
There were significant differences between spouses with complete data and those with missing data; therefore, results should be interpreted with caution.
The study only included Vietnam Veterans as such the generalizability of the findings to other Veterans needs to be given careful consideration.
Interviews of Vietnam Veterans and their spouses were conducted more than ten years after the war ended; therefore, passage of time might have affected their symptomatology and marital relationships in multiple ways.
Avenues for Future Research
Evaluate what supports military families and their partners need most during reintegration
Explore Service members' spouses perceptions on their well-being in relation to their own well-being and mental health
Probe into mechanisms by which Service members' partners become distressed or resilient to the Service members' psychological distress
Focus
Multiple Branches
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Branch
Military Component
Abstract
Spouses of combat veterans with PTSD have greater psychological and marital distress than spouses of veterans without PTSD, however, few studies have examined how variables related to the spouses (e.g., cognitions) may play a role in their own distress. The current study examined spousesÕ perceptions of combat veteransÕ PTSD symptom severity in 465 spouses of veterans from the National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study. SpousesÕ perceptions of veteransÕ symptom severity were positively associated with spousesÕ psychological and marital distress, furthermore, spousesÕ perceptions fully mediated the effects of veteransÕ self-reported PTSD severity on spousesÕ distress. Additionally, for spouses who provided complete data with regard to their perceptions of veteransÕ PTSD, distress was highest when they perceived high levels of symptoms but veterans reported low levels. These results highlight the importance of interpersonal perceptions in intimate relationships and provide preliminary groundwork for future research on cognitions in spouses of combat veterans with PTSD.
Abstract Document
PRTW Document
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