A Dyadic Analysis of the Influence of Trauma Exposure and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Severity on Intimate Partner Aggression

Abstract

This study used structural equation modeling to evaluate a mediation model of the relationship between trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and perpetration of intimate partner physical and psychological aggression in trauma-exposed veterans and their cohabitating spouses (n = 286 couples; 88% male veteran/female spouse, 80.8% White, non-Hispanic). Dyadic data analyses were used to simultaneously evaluate actor and partner effects using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (Kashy & Kenny, 2000). The primary hypothesis was that PTSD would mediate the association between trauma exposure and intimate partner physical and psychological aggression with these effects evident both within and across members of a couple (i.e., actor and partner effects). The best fitting model included: (a) equivalent actor and partner direct effects of trauma on veterans’ acts of psychological aggression (β = .17 – .20, p = .001) and (b) equivalent actor and partner indirect effects via PTSD on veterans’ acts of physical aggression (β = .08 – .10, p < .001). There were no direct or indirect effects predicting the spouses’ aggression. Results suggest it is important to consider the trauma histories and possible presence of PTSD in both partners as this may be a point of intervention when treating distressed couples.

The Role of PTSD in Bi-directional Intimate Partner Violence in Military and Veteran Populations: A Research Review

“…Among the quantitative studies identified, three involved veterans from different eras and two involved Iraq and Afghanistan veterans only. Wolf et al ( 2013 ) examined the relationship between the veteran's PTSD and IPV in 296 couples of predominantly male veterans (majority from Vietnam and earlier wars, including 15.2% from Iraq and Afghanistan) and their female partners. The findings highlight that both veteran and spouse trauma history and PTSD symptoms increase the risk of the veteran but not the spouse engaging in IPV physical aggression; there was no relationship between any of the PTSD symptom-clusters and veteran perpetration of violence.…”

“…Truly capturing the dynamics of PTSD in couples experiencing IPV requires the robust measurement of both PTSD and IPV for both military and their partner. For PTSD, this means exploring symptoms along with the underlying traumatic events (Wolf et al, 2013 ; Semiatin et al, 2017 ). While the findings of the studies reviewed provided varied understanding of the veteran's PTSD symptomatology and etiology, none of the studies explored PTSD on the part of the partner and the role that it may play in the bi-directional nature of the violence.…”

“…Most of the studies of veterans reviewed relied on samples recruited via Veteran Administration (VA), healthcare setting and clinical populations. Moreover, some studies included veterans from multiple war eras (e.g., Teten et al, 2009 , 2010 ; Wolf et al, 2013 ; Gerlock et al, 2016 ) resulting in wide age range and large span of time in which the traumatic events possibly responsible for the PTSD symptoms may have occurred. Little has also been learned about the dynamics of combat-related PTSD in the intimate relationships of female active duty member and veterans and while many of the studies reviewed included female active duty members and veterans, they were a very small portion of the sample.…”

Structural Pathways between Child Abuse, Poor Mental Health Outcomes and Male-Perpetrated Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)

“…Having PTSD is also a risk factor for other long-term and negative relational outcomes [ 13 ]. To date this theory has been substantiated by work among military veterans in developed countries and fewer studies have been conducted in general populations in low and middle income countries [ 14 – 16 ]. The body of knowledge showing a relationship between PTSD and male-perpetrated IPV in the general non-clinical populations is still emerging [ 17 ]…”

Associations between trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder, and aggression perpetrated by women. A meta‐analysis

“…Some previous studies had pointed to the importance of PTSD acting as a mediator between exposure and subsequent aggression (Hecker et al, ; Rasche et al, ), whereas other studies indicated both direct effects of trauma exposure on aggression and indirect effects via PTSD (e.g., Augsburger et al, ; Sommer et al, ). Finally, one study reported differential effects, depending on the specific type of aggression (Wolf et al, ). In this meta‐analytical review, we could not directly test a mediation model, nor were longitudinal data available.…”