Publication year
2017
Citation Title
Social skills deficits as a mediator between PTSD symptoms and intimate partner aggression in returning Veterans.
Journal Name
Journal of Family Psychology
Journal Volume
31
Issue Number
1
Page Numbers
105-110
DOI
10.1037/fam0000215
Summary
Veterans' posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms may be related to intimate partner aggression, although the underlying mechanisms are unclear. The effect of social skills deficits on the associations between PTSD and intimate partner aggression was examined in the study. Results indicated that social skills deficits partially explained the relationship between PTSD and psychological, but not physical, intimate partner aggression.
Key Findings
Social skill deficits helped to explain the associations between PTSD symptoms and psychological intimate partner aggression.
Social skill deficits did not explain the associations between PTSD symptoms and physical intimate partner aggression.
Emotional numbing was the only PTSD symptom cluster related to social skill deficit.
Implications for Program Leaders
Offer support groups for Service members who have PTSD symptoms and show risk of perpetrating intimate partner aggression as a way to mitigate this risk
Develop courses and workshops that teach military families how to increase social skills and solve marital conflicts
Educate health providers about the associations between social skills deficit, PTSD, and intimate partner aggression
Implications for Policy Makers
Raise awareness for the association between PTSD symptoms and intimate partner aggression in Service members
Support the development of workshops that increase Service members' social skills in marital relationships
Encourage training for professionals who work with military families on warning signs of PTSD and intimate partner aggression
Methods
Participants were Veterans from the greater Boston, Massachusetts area; the method of recruitment was not indicated.
Some Veterans who showed no relationship distress were put on the waiting list in order to make sure roughly half of the sample was in a distressed relationship.
PTSD symptoms were evaluated by clinicians, intimate partner aggression was reported by Veterans and their partners, and social skills deficits were assessed by answering questions regarding hypothetical scenarios that may cause marital conflicts.
Participants
Participants were 92 male Veterans who were married or living with a partner and had been exposed to combat.
The average age of the Veterans was 40.37 years (SD = 9.63).
The majority of participants were White (78%), followed by Black (10%), Latino (2%), Asian American (2%), Native American (3%), and others (5%).
Limitations
Only male Veterans were included in the study, therefore the results cannot be generalized to female Veterans.
Intimate partner aggression was self-reported and reported by partners, therefore its actually occurrence may be higher than reported.
The cross sectional nature of the study made it impossible to determine causality between variables.
Avenues for Future Research
Include female and male Veterans so the results of the study can be applied to both genders
Obtain intimate partner aggression records not only from the couples but also from other sources, such as hospitals and social service agencies
Conduct longitudinal studies to investigate the potential causal relationships among PTSD symptoms, intimate partner aggression, and social skills deficits
Focus
Multiple Branches
Target Population
Population Focus
Abstract
This study examined social skills deficits as a mediator of the relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and use of intimate partner aggression (IPA) among returning veterans. Prior research with veterans has focused on PTSD-related deficits at the decoding stage of McFall’s (1982) social information processing model, and the current study adds to this literature by examining social skills deficits at the decision stage. Participants were 92 male veterans recruited from the greater Boston area. PTSD symptoms were assessed through clinician interview, IPA use was assessed through self- and partner report, and social skills deficits were assessed in a laboratory task in which veterans listened to a series of problematic marital situations and responded with what they would say or do in the situation. Responses were coded for social competency. Bivariate correlations revealed several significant associations among PTSD symptoms, social skills deficits, and use of IPA. When all PTSD symptom clusters were entered into a regression predicting social skills deficits, only emotional numbing emerged as a unique predictor. Finally, social skills deficits significantly mediated the relationship between veterans’ PTSD symptoms and use of psychological (but not physical) IPA. Findings extend prior research on McFall’s (1982) social information processing model as it relates to veterans’ PTSD symptoms and use of IPA. More research is needed to understand the associations between PTSD symptoms and deficits at each individual step of this model.
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