Prospective Study of Police Officer Spouse/Partners: A New Pathway to Secondary Trauma and Relationship Violence?

Abstract

IntroductionIt has been reported that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with secondary spouse/partner (S/P) emotional distress and relationship violence.ObjectiveTo investigate the relationships between PTSD, S/P emotional distress and relationship violence among police recruits using a prospective design.MethodsTwo hypotheses were tested in 71 S/Ps: (1) Police officer reports of greater PTSD symptoms after 12 months of police service will be associated with greater secondary trauma symptoms among S/Ps; (2) Greater secondary trauma symptoms among S/Ps at 12 months will be associated with S/P reports of greater relationship violence.Methods71 police recruits and their S/Ps were assessed at baseline and 12 months after the start of police officer duty. Using linear and logistic regression, we analyzed explanatory variables for 12 month S/P secondary traumatic stress symptoms and couple violence, including baseline S/P variables and couple violence, as well as exposure and PTSD reports from both S/P and officer.ResultsS/P perception of officer PTSD symptoms predicted S/P secondary traumatic stress. OS/P secondary trauma was significantly associated with both total couple violence (.34, p = .004) and S/P to officer violence (.35, p = .003).ConclusionsAlthough results from this relatively small study of young police officers and their S/Ps must be confirmed by larger studies in general populations, findings suggest that S/P perception of PTSD symptoms may play a key role in the spread of traumatic stress symptoms across intimate partner relationships and intimate partner violence in the context of PTSD.

Backing the Blue: Trauma in Law Enforcement Spouses and Couples

“…Seven couples were mixed‐gender and one couple was same‐gender (women). Our sample of highly educated Caucasian women is consistent with samples reported in previous research on LEP partners and spouses (Meffert et al, ).…”

“…A wide variety of traumatic events can occur within one's work as a police officer, and these events transpire within an ongoing and stressful job context (Hartley Woody, 2006). Advancing the notion that LE personnel's trauma affects their marital and family life, our findings show considerable impact on spouses whose trauma arose from knowing about the traumatic experiences of their partners (Maynard et al, 1980;Meffert et al, 2014). These impacts, like people directly exposed, cut across physical, psychological, and social levels of functioning and put couples at risk for a host of difficulties that could go unnoticed if services target LEPs but not their spouses and families (Woody, 2006).…”

“…Stress is a common aspect of the LE profession, but few studies have focused on the impact of trauma on LE spouses and couples (exceptions include Alexander & Walker, ; Maynard et al, ; Meffert et al, ; Miller, ; Roberts & Levenson, ). A few key findings from this small body of research suggest stress associated with LE work adversely affects LE spouses and families (Alexander & Walker ).…”

“…Although research suggests that LEPs are directly affected by trauma exposure, few studies focus on the influence of trauma on law enforcement (LE) spouses and couples (see Alexander & Walker 1996;Maynard, Maynard, Mccubbin & Shao, 1980;Meffert et al, 2014;Miller, 2007;Roberts & Levenson, 2001). The investigations that have focused on LE spouses suggest that police work has a detrimental impact on LE spouses (Alexander & Walker, 1996) and that those in close contact with the traumatized person also experience symptoms of traumatization (Henry et al, 2011;Nelson & Wampler, 2000;Regehr, 2005).…”

Cuffed together: A study on how law enforcement work impacts the officer’s spouse

“…The use of adaptive coping strategies promotes resilience and results in a successful long-term relationship (Thompson, 2012). Some adaptive STS coping tools include regular exercise, healthy diet, mindfulness, yoga, meditation, humor and jokes, practicing spirituality or religion, breathing exercises, and seeking social support (Fortune & Kaye, 2001;Amnie, 2018), and communication (Meffert et al, 2014). Maladaptive coping techniques include avoidance of stress, withdrawal, isolation, use/misuse/abuse of alcohol or drugs (Leino, Eskelinen, Summala, & Virtanen, 2011), disassociation and engaging in risky behaviors (Amnie, 2018).…”