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

Abstract

. (2014). A qualitative study of single-trauma and dual-trauma military couples. Retrieved from

Operational Stress Injuries and the Mental Health and Well‐Being of Veteran Spouses: A Scoping Review

“…A Canadian study investigating the impact of a diagnosis of a service‐related disability, or an OSI, on Canadian veterans of the Vietnam War also exposes the long‐term problems meeting the demands associated with family and marital adjustment (Stretch, ). This study's findings align with outcomes of other studies that reveal issues with expressiveness, self‐disclosure, and establishing intimacy (Carroll, Rueger, Foy, & Donohue, 1985; Riggs, Byrne, Weathers, & Litz, ); conflict, less consensus, and less cohesion than other couples (Solomon et al, ); poor communication, emotional distance, high levels of anger and resulting feelings of sadness, isolation, and stress (Mansfield, Schaper, Yanagida, & Rosen, ); marital instability (Gimbel & Booth, ); and communication problems associated with tendencies of dual‐trauma couples to avoid discussing trauma symptoms (Nelson Goff et al, ).…”

Backing the Blue in the Midst of COVID-19: Simultaneous Shared Trauma and the Effects of Coping in Law Enforcement Couples

“…Lastly, a common theme in law enforcement couples and shared trauma couples is a low level of relationship satisfaction during periods of high stress (Nelson Goff et al 2014 ; Roberts and Levenson 2001 ; Ruhlmann et al 2018 ). The COVID-19 pandemic may exacerbate these challenges as couples spend less time with each other, amounting to a decrease in physical and emotional support.…”

“…Balcom ( 1996 ) also describes similar dynamics in non-simultaneous dual trauma couples, such as boundary ambiguity, but adds that the most common characteristic is “intense emotional reactivity” described as “flat, lifeless affect” in couples (p. 435). In their qualitative study comparing single versus dual trauma military couples who have experienced deployment and other traumas, Nelson Goff et al ( 2014 ) found that communication problems and experience of trauma triggers were unique to dual trauma military couples.…”

Exploring Contextual Trauma in Cambodia: A Sociointerpersonal Perspective on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

“…Couples in which both partners experienced trauma (i.e., dual‐trauma couples) may have different relationship experiences compared with couples in which only one partner has experienced trauma (i.e., single‐trauma couples; Nelson Goff et al., ). Dual‐trauma couples have reported heightened difficulties communicating compared with single‐trauma couples (Nelson Goff et al., ), which could affect PTSD levels in the present sample. The current data did not specify if participants in the sample were married to a spouse who also experienced trauma, either during or after the war.…”

“…Recent literature has discussed the impact of trauma on relationship satisfaction and noted that husbands whose wives had increased PTSD symptoms engaged in more negative selfdisclosure during intimate conversations (Henry et al, 2013). Couples in which both partners experienced trauma (i.e., dualtrauma couples) may have different relationship experiences compared with couples in which only one partner has experienced trauma (i.e., single-trauma couples; Nelson Goff et al, 2014). Dual-trauma couples have reported heightened difficulties communicating compared with single-trauma couples (Nelson Goff et al, 2014), which could affect PTSD levels in the present sample.…”