Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Parenting, and Marital Adjustment among a Civilian Population

Abstract

While psychopathology in general is linked to poorer marital and parental satisfaction, there is a paucity of data regarding these interactions in parents with Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The current study addresses this issue among a civilian population. Two hundred trauma-exposed parents, mean age of 37.2, 62% mothers, were assessed using self-report questionnaires, for background variables, PTSD symptoms using the Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale (PDS), depression symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory, BDI), marital satisfaction (Dyadic Adjustment Scale, DAS-7), parenting behavior (Alabama Parenting Questionnaire, APQ-9), and parenting satisfaction (Parenting Satisfaction Questionnaire). We hypothesized that positive parenting behavior and parenting satisfaction would be negatively correlated with PTSD symptom levels, and that this relationship would be mediated by marital satisfaction; the independent effects of depression on marital and parenting functioning were also examined. Data was analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). Results indicated that PTSD was related to poorer parenting behavior (B = 0.089, p = 0.033), depression had a negative impact on parenting satisfaction (B = 0.983, p = 0.003), and marital satisfaction (B = −0.672, p = 0.004), and marital satisfaction fully mediated the relationship between depression and parenting. The findings demonstrated that the effects of PTSD can cast a pall not only over the individual but over the entire family. Interventions are needed to address these issues.

Posttraumatic Stress and Parenting Behaviors: The Mediating Role of Emotion Regulation

“…Consistent with the above possibilities, survey and observational data reveal positive relations between PTSD symptom severity and dysfunctional parenting behaviors (e.g., Ammerman et al 2012;Hershkowitz et al 2017;Leen-Feldner et al 2011;van Ee et al 2012). For example, researchers found a positive association between parental PTSD and moderate physical aggression toward children after accounting for socioeconomic status and other psychopathology (Leen-Feldner et al 2011).…”

Alabama Parenting Questionnaire—Short Form (APQ-9): Evidencing Construct Validity with Factor Analysis, CFA MTMM and Measurement Invariance in a Greek Sample

“…The strength of associations is discussed in parenting literature (e.g. Seabridge, 2012;Hershkowitz et al, 2017;Burlaka et al, 2017).…”

The Impact of Postpartum Posttraumatic Stress and Depression Symptoms on Couples’ Relationship Satisfaction: A Population-Based Prospective Study

“…Postpartum depression may play a role in such potential mechanisms, as postpartum PTSD may lead to increased depressive symptoms in the woman. Such symptoms, including lack of energy, disinterest in social life, and irritability may in turn reduce couple relationship satisfaction ( Zelkowitz and Milet, 1996 ; Wenzel et al, 2005 ; Hershkowitz et al, 2017 ). Similarly, anxiety in the postpartum period may arise as a result of symptoms of postpartum PTSD such as intrusion and hyperarousal, thereby leading to reduced couple relationship quality ( McKenzie-McHarg et al, 2015 ; Agius et al, 2016 ).…”

“…When examining the association between postpartum PTSD and couple satisfaction, potential third variables that may be related to both postpartum PTSD and couple satisfaction have to be taken into account. For example, couple relationship satisfaction is associated with maternal sociodemographic factors, such as age ( Hershkowitz et al, 2017 ) and educational background ( Blum and Mehrabian, 1999 ). These maternal sociodemographic factors as well as prior PTSD have been shown to also be risk factors for postpartum PTSD in community samples ( Grekin and O’Hara, 2014 ; Tabet et al, 2016 ).…”