Publication year
2015
Citation Title
Veterans’ PTSD symptoms and their partners’ desired changes in key relationship domains.
Journal Name
Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy
Journal Volume
7
Issue Number
5
Page Numbers
479-484
DOI
10.1037/tra0000052
Summary
The relationship between symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in male veterans from different service eras and their female partners’ desire for change in the relationship was examined. Veterans with higher PTSD symptom severity, particularly emotional numbing, had partners that reported desire for change in intimate and shared activities.
Key Findings
Veterans’ re-experiencing symptom severity, emotional numbing symptom severity, and hyperarousal symptom severity were related to partners’ reports of desire for more intimacy, with emotional numbing emerging as a unique factor.
Veterans’ re-experiencing symptom severity, avoidance symptom severity, emotional numbing symptom severity, and hyperarousal symptom severity were related to partners’ reports of desire for more shared activities.
No relationships were found between PTSD symptoms and desire for change in responsibilities.
Implications for Program Leaders
Offer workshops to Service members and their partners regarding PTSD symptom severity and it's influence on relationship satisfaction
Provide opportunities for Service members and their partners to engage in shared activities that are sensitive to the needs of those experiencing symptoms of PTSD
Offer support groups for Service members and their partners who are experiencing emotional numbing
Implications for Policy Makers
Recommend regular screening for symptoms of PTSD in Service members
Support efforts to increase awareness about the relationship between PTSD symptom severity and relationship satisfaction to Service members and their partners
Continue to involve Service members’ partners in programs that aim to help Service members reintegrate following deployment
Methods
Veterans were recruited from the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System in New Mexico and Boston through flyers, mailings, and provider referrals.
To be eligible, Veterans had to have been living with an intimate partner for 12 months, have a history of at least one traumatic event and a PTSD diagnosis, and have a partner who was willing to participate.
Male Veterans reported on their symptoms of PTSD and their female partners reported on desired changes in three relationship domains: intimacy, shared activities, and responsibilities.
Participants
Male Veterans (N = 249) from different service eras and their female partners participated in the study.
The average age, including both male and female partners, was 51.9 years (SD = 11.2 years).
Most of the participants (83%) were White, 10% were Black, 8% were Native American, 20% were Latino, and 10% were other races.
More than half of the participants had served in the Army, 20% in the Marines, 16% in the Navy, 14% in the Air Force, and 4% in the Coast Guard.
Limitations
Findings are limited to male Service members; PTSD might have different effects on the relationships of female Veterans.
PTSD symptoms accounted for only a small amount of the variation in partners’ desire for change, indicating that desire for change is largely driven by other, unmeasured factors.
Some aspects of relationship satisfaction were measured with a small number items, which could yield an incomplete understanding of this construct.
Avenues for Future Research
Examine other relevant aspects of intimate partnerships that were not addressed in this study, such as the use of intimate partner violence
Conduct qualitative research to help identify other areas of relationship functioning that are particularly important to relationship dissatisfaction in the partners of Service members
Replicate the current study with female Service members and in dual-Service member couples
Focus
Multiple Branches
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Branch
Military Component
Abstract
There is a growing literature investigating the connection between veterans’ posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and intimate relationship problems. Little to no work, however, has examined the connection between veterans’ PTSD symptoms and their partners’ perceptions of specific relationship areas in need of change. We examined associations between overall PTSD symptoms and symptom cluster scores with partners’ desired changes in the areas of intimacy, shared activities, and responsibilities. The sample consisted of 249 male veterans of different service eras and their female partners. Results indicated that veterans’ PTSD symptoms were associated with greater desired changes from their partners in the veterans’ intimacy behaviors and participation in shared activities. When examining the contribution of each symptom cluster individually, only the veterans’ emotional numbing symptoms emerged as a significant unique predictor and were associated with partners’ desired changes in intimacy. The findings suggest that intimacy and shared activities may be relevant areas to address in PTSD treatment for veterans and their partners and highlight the particular significance of emotional numbing symptoms to intimacy in veterans’ relationships.
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