A dyadic perspective on PTSD symptoms’ associations with couple functioning and parenting stress in first-time parents.

Abstract

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms are associated with disruptions in both couple functioning and parenting, and limited research suggests that, among military couples, perceptions of couple functioning and parenting stress are a function of both one’s own and one’s partner’s mental health symptoms. However, this work has not been generalized to civilian couples, and little is known about the associations between PTSD symptoms and family adjustment in specific family developmental contexts. We examined PTSD symptoms’ associations with perceived couple functioning and parenting stress within a dyadic context in civilian couples who had participated in a randomized controlled trial of a universal, couple-based transition to parenthood program and at least one member of the couple reported having experienced a Criterion A1 traumatic event. Results of actor-partner interdependence models revealed that parents’ own and partners’ PTSD symptoms were negatively associated with perceived couple functioning; contrary to expectation, the association of partners’ PTSD symptoms with perceived couple functioning was strongest among men who received the intervention. A parent’s own PTSD symptoms were positively associated with parenting stress for both men and women and were unexpectedly strongest for men who received the intervention. Partner PTSD symptoms were also positively associated with increased parenting stress for both men and women. Findings support a dyadic conceptualization of the associations between spouses’ PTSD symptoms and family outcomes during the transition to parenthood and suggest that participating in a couple-based, psychoeducational program during this phase in the family life cycle may be particularly salient for men.

Posttraumatic stress disorder and relationship functioning: A comprehensive review and organizational framework

“…The opposite was true when survivors reported high partner support. Finally, Fredman, Le, Marshall, Brick, and Feinberg (2017) found that partner effects of PTSD symptoms on couple functioning were unexpectedly stronger in men than in women when men received a couple-based coparenting intervention. Greater focus on the influences of sex, gender, and sexual orientation is needed to further our understanding of these issues.…”

Bioecological Implications of Narrative Exposure Therapy in Low‐Resource Settings: Individual, Family, Community, and Socio‐Political Contexts

“…PTSD can negatively influence relationships with friends or significant others (Fredman et al, 2017;McLean, Rosenbach, Capaldi, & Foa, 2013). PTSD symptoms may impair social skills or lead to avoidance of social situations that individuals fear may trigger memories of past trauma.…”

“…One study found that, among adolescent girls exposed to sexual assault and violence, higher PTSD symptom severity was associated with lower social functioning (McLean et al., ). In addition, ample research supports a negative association between PTSD and couple relationship quality (e.g., Fredman et al., ). One study found that individual PTSD symptoms were associated both with their own perceptions of couple functioning as well as their partner's perception of couple functioning (Fredman et al., ).…”

“…In addition, ample research supports a negative association between PTSD and couple relationship quality (e.g., Fredman et al., ). One study found that individual PTSD symptoms were associated both with their own perceptions of couple functioning as well as their partner's perception of couple functioning (Fredman et al., ).…”

Elucidating posttraumatic stress symptom dimensions and health correlates among postpartum women

“…Dysphoric arousal symptoms were also strongly associated with parental conflict among trauma-exposed adolescents (Sumner et al, 2014). In postpartum and parenting women, total PTSD symptoms have been linked to parenting stress (Ammerman et al, 2012;Chemtob et al, 2013;Fredman et al, 2017;Samuelson et al, 2017;Wilson et al, 2017); aggression in couple relationships (Fredman et al, 2017;Marshall et al, 2019); and IPV (Sumner et al, 2012). Another relevant health correlate for new mothers is contraceptive use.…”