Couple Adjustment and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms in National Guard Veterans of the Iraq War

• Published in: Journal of family psychology Vol. 25; no. 4; pp. 479 - 487
• Main Authors: Erbes, Christopher R., Meis, Laura A., Polusny, Melissa A., Compton, Jill S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Psychological Association 01-08-2011
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Adjustment; Adolescent; Adult; Couples; Female; Gender differences; Human; Human Sex Differences; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Iraq; Iraq War, 2003-2011; Likelihood Functions; Longitudinal Studies; Major Depression; Male; Mental Health; Middle Aged; Military Personnel; Military reserves; Military Veterans; National Guard Personnel; Personal relationships; Post traumatic stress disorder; Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; Psychological Tests; Sex Differences; Sex Distribution; Soldiers; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - epidemiology; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology; Stress, Psychological - diagnosis; Stress, Psychological - psychology; Symptoms; United States - epidemiology; Veterans; Veterans - psychology; War; Young Adult; United States; PTSD; war/armed conflict in military role; dysphoria; couple adjustment; veteran mental health
• ISSN: 0893-3200; 1939-1293
• DOI: 10.1037/a0024007

Relationship adjustment and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms were assessed across two time points in a sample of 313 married or partnered National Guard soldiers recently returned from combat duty in Iraq. Structural equation modeling using a four-factor model for PTSD found the latent variable dysphoria (reflecting generalized distress including aspects of emotional numbing and arousal) had the strongest independent contribution to predicting relationship adjustment at Time 1 and indirectly predicted poorer relationship adjustment at Time 2. Exploratory analysis of gender differences (n = 33 women; n = 280 men) suggested a different pattern of relations between PTSD factors and relationship adjustment among female soldiers at Time 1, with a trend toward trauma specific avoidance being more highly related to relationship adjustment. Clinical and research implications are discussed.