Publication year
2017
Citation Title
Optimism, self-differentiation, and perceived posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms: Predictors of satisfaction in female military partners.
Journal Name
Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice
Journal Volume
6
Issue Number
4
Page Numbers
235–246
DOI
10.1037/cfp0000090
Summary
Combat deployment is stressful for military spouses, so it is important to examine factors that can improve their relationship satisfaction. This study recruited 235 female partners of Service members or Veterans who had at least one combat deployment; each woman completed an online survey regarding their level of optimism, self-differentiation (i.e., being able to function autonomously when necessary), and perceived posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms (PTSD). Results revealed that the three factors all played a role in female military partners' relationship satisfaction.
Key Findings
Partner-perceived PTSD symptoms were negatively associated with female military spouses' relationship satisfaction.
Female military spouses' optimism was positively associated with their relationship satisfaction when the level of PTSD symptoms was controlled.
Self-differentiation was negatively associated with female military spouses' relationship satisfaction.
Implications for Program Leaders
Offer support groups for military spouses whose partners were diagnosed with PTSD
Develop workshops for military spouses to enhance their skills of positive thinking and optimism
Provide outreach services that increase awareness of available supports to families and Service members with PTSD
Implications for Policy Makers
Raise awareness on military bases regarding the importance of taking care of military spouses' needs
Promote the development of programs that support military spouses during and after their partners' combat deployment
Recommend training of professionals working with military spouses regarding the factors that can improve military spouses' relationship satisfaction
Methods
Participants were recruited via social media, online military partners' support groups, and a website of events for Service members and their families. They had to be married to or in a romantic relationship with an Active Duty Service member or a Veteran to qualify for the study.
Participants completed an online questionnaire regarding their perception of partner's PTSD symptoms, dispositional optimism, self-differentiation, and relationship satisfaction.
Data were analyzed to examine the relationship between optimism, self-differentiation, perceived PTSD symptoms, and relationship satisfaction.
Participants
Participants were 235 women with an average age of 32 years (SD = 7.38).
Most women were White (84%), followed by Latina (8%) and other (8%).
Most women's partners were Active Duty Service members (63%) or Veterans (33%); the time between the partners' deployment and data collection ranged from three months to 24 years, and the military branches of the partners were not specified.
Limitations
The cross-sectional design of the study made it impossible to examine the causal relationships between the study variables.
The study was based on self-report data, so the results may be subject to social desirability bias.
The time between last deployment and data collection varied greatly (three months to 24 years), which may confound the results.
Avenues for Future Research
Conduct longitudinal studies to examine the causal relationship between optimism, self-differentiation, perceived PTSD symptoms, and relationship satisfaction
Recruit both male and female military partners so that the results can be better generalized
Collect both subjective (self-report) and objective (medical records) data so that the results are more reliable
Focus
Multiple Branches
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Branch
Military Component
Abstract
Female wives/partners of active-duty military personnel, reservists, and veterans (N = 235) who had experienced a combat deployment participated in a study on the contributions of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, dispositional optimism, and self-differentiation to romantic relationship satisfaction. Optimism and differentiation were tested as protective factors in the context of PTSD symptoms. As hypothesized, more partner-perceived PTSD symptoms predicted less relationship satisfaction, and optimism contributed uniquely to satisfaction when controlling for symptom severity and the partner’s military status (active duty vs. separated). Contrary to prediction, however, self-differentiation was negatively associated with relationship satisfaction, possibly due to the unique experience of military life and/or being partnered with a man who had experienced a combat deployment. Further analyses revealed that participants who indicated that their partners had formally received a PTSD diagnosis reported greater emotional reactivity and less emotional cutoff. The implications of these results are discussed along with the study’s limitations and recommendations for future research.
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