A qualitative analysis of military couples with high and low trauma symptoms and relationship distress levels

The purpose of the current study was to understand the experiences of a subset of military couples regarding the effects of war deployment on couple functioning. This study utilized the core “couple functioning” variables included in the Couple Adaptation to Traumatic Stress Model (Nelson Goff & Smith, 2005) as sensitizing concepts to guide the qualitative analysis process. Participant interviews (n = 15 couples, 30 total participants) were divided into subgroups according to high and low trauma symptom and relationship satisfaction scale scores. Five primary themes were identified in the results: communication, conflict management, roles, support/nurturance, and post-traumatic growth. Overall, highly satisfied couples and those with the lowest levels of traumatic stress symptoms reported more positive relationship functioning in the identified areas, while couples reporting higher traumatic stress symptoms and lower relationship satisfaction indicated varied or inconsistent qualitative results. Clinical and research implications for military couples also are identified

Student reactions to trauma-related course content

Higher education courses frequently utilize trauma-related content material as part of the curriculum. To reduce the potential for secondary traumatic stress, it has been recommended that instructors be purposeful and cautious with the use of trauma-related materials in the classroom. Most recommendations for implementation of these materials are based on theory, as few empirical studies examine actual student reactions to this content. This study, guided by Hill\u27s ABC-X Model, presents mixed methods survey data from undergraduate students enrolled in a trauma course across three semesters to measure trauma exposure and subjective reactions to course materials. Qualitative results indicated a range of emotional reactions to course content, with both positive and negative effects. Results support the notion that coping resources and appraisal of the content itself may influence how course content is experienced by students. Implications for teaching, policy, and future research are discussed

Pilot Data on the Nature of Trauma Exposure in Military Couples

Using a sample of 50 couples, this pilot study examined the associations between service member and spouse PTSD symptoms on both self and partner relationship quality across trauma-type (i.e., interpersonal, non-interpersonal, military) and perpetrator-type (i.e., family member, non-family member, military) groups. Four multiple-group actor-partner interdependence models were used to analyze the actor and partner effects of husband and wives’ PTSD symptoms and relationship quality, as couples were classified into distinct groups. Results suggest that under some conditions, husband and wife PTSD symptoms were negatively associated with both their own and their partner’s relationship quality. Findings from these preliminary analyses invite a more dynamic conceptualization of the possible relationship between PTSD, relationship quality, and distinct facets of trauma exposure in veteran couples

Factors that differentiate distressed and non-distressed marriages in army soldiers

Data from U.S. Army soldiers (N = 697) were analyzed to determine the factors that differentiate distressed from non-distressed relationships. Results show that most soldiers had relationship satisfaction scores that categorized them as non-distressed. In addition, soldiers in dual-military marriages had relationship satisfaction scores similar to those of soldiers in military-civilian marriages. Finally, several variables including rank, relocation status, relationship length, and relationship status differentiated distressed from non-distressed relationships. Implications for intervention programming and future research directions are discussed

A qualitative study of single-trauma and dual-trauma military couples

Trauma survivors and their partners may experience unique dynamics due to the ongoing effects of previous trauma exposure and current trauma symptoms. The current qualitative study attempted to compare and contrast single-trauma couples (one partner reports a trauma history or high traumatic load) with dual-trauma couples (both partners report a trauma history or high traumatic load) to further understand the systemic effects on couple functioning in a sample of military couples. Overall, both positive and negative effects from previous trauma on the couple relationship were reported by participants, including increased awareness, communication, support, coping strategies, and trauma-related triggers, with dual-trauma couples reporting more trauma-related triggers and communication problems. Clinical and research implications for further study are described

Receiving the initial Down syndrome diagnosis: a comparison of prenatal and postnatal parent group experiences

This study explored the preliminary experiences of parents upon learning of their child's diagnosis of Down syndrome. Qualitative data from a web-based, national survey were analyzed based on two groups: prenatal (n  =  46) or postnatal (n  =  115) diagnosis. Three primary categories emerged from the data analysis: prenatal screening/testing decisions by parents, the adjustment process for parents, and postdiagnosis resources and support for parents. Participants' rationale behind pursuing testing ranged from wanting to be better prepared to not pursuing testing because it was not a factor in continuing the pregnancy. Participant reactions to the diagnosis involved a range of intense preliminary emotions; participants described their extreme grief and loss experience at the initial news of the diagnosis, which also was ambiguous in nature and required differing timelines of adjustment. Finally, participants described experiences with medical professionals, information/education, and faith/religion as resources and areas of support, although not all were described as positive in nature. Participants in both groups identified having negative experiences with medical professionals during the diagnosis process. The results indicated the importance of these early experiences for parents of children with Down syndrome and emphasize providing effective education, resources, and practical information from reliable sources

The effects of trauma on intimate relationships: A qualitative study with clinical couples

Research has traditionally focused on the development of symptoms in those who experienced trauma directly but has overlooked the impact of trauma on victims' families. In recent years, researchers and clinicians have begun to examine how individual exposure to traumatic events affects the spouses or partners, children, and professional helpers of trauma survivors. The current study examines qualitative interview data from 17 individuals, analyzed using a retroductive methodology to identify how intimate relationships are affected when there is a history of trauma exposure. The following primary themes were identified: increased communication, decreased communication, increased cohesion/connection, decreased cohesion/connection, increased understanding, decreased understanding, sexual intimacy problems, symptoms of relationship distress, support from partner, and relationship resources. Areas for future research and clinical implications are identified

The impact of individual trauma symptoms of deployed soldiers on relationship satisfaction

Research traditionally has focused on the development of individual symptoms in those who experienced trauma directly but has overlooked the interpersonal impact of trauma. The current study reports data from 45 male Army soldiers who recently returned from a military deployment to Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom) or Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom)and their female spouses/partners. The results indicated that increased trauma symptoms, particularly sleep problems, dissociation, and severe sexual problems, in the soldiers significantly predicted lower marital/relationship satisfaction for both soldiers and their female partners. The results suggest that individual trauma symptoms negatively impact relationship satisfaction in military couples in which the husband has been exposed to war trauma

Primary trauma of female partners in a military sample: individual symptoms and relationship satisfaction

Research traditionally has focused on the development of symptoms in those who experienced war-trauma directly but overlooked the impact of trauma in the partners of soldiers. The current study reports data from 45 couples where the male partners were Army soldiers who recently returned from deployments to Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom) or Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom). Results from this study indicated that female partner primary trauma, particularly trauma related to PTSD re-experiencing and arousal symptoms, has an influence on levels of relationship satisfaction, both for female partners and soldiers

Teaching Trauma: A Model for Introducing Traumatic Materials in the Classroom

niversity courses in disciplines such as social work, family studies, humanities, and other areas often use classroom materials that contain traumatic material (Barlow & Becker-Blease, 2012). While many recommendations based on trauma theory exist for instructors at the university level, these are often made in the context of clinical training programs, rather than at the undergraduate level across disciplines. Furthermore, no organized model exists to aid instructors in developing a trauma-informed pedagogy for teaching courses on traumatic stress, violence, and other topics that may pose a risk for secondary traumatic stress in the classroom (Kostouros, 2008). This paper seeks to bridge the gap between trauma theory and implementation of sensitive content in classrooms of higher education, and presents a model of trauma-informed teaching that was developed in the context of an undergraduate trauma studies program. Implications and future directions for research in the area of trauma-informed university classrooms are discussed