title: Couple adjustment and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in National Guard veterans of the Iraq war.
abstract: Relationship adjustment and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms were assessed across two time points in a sample of 313 married or partnered National Guard soldiers recently returned from combat duty in Iraq. Structural equation modeling using a four-factor model for PTSD found the latent variable dysphoria (reflecting generalized distress including aspects of emotional numbing and arousal) had the strongest independent contribution to predicting relationship adjustment at Time 1 and indirectly predicted poorer relationship adjustment at Time 2. Exploratory analysis of gender differences (n = 33 women; n = 280 men) suggested a different pattern of relations between PTSD factors and relationship adjustment among female soldiers at Time 1, with a trend toward trauma specific avoidance being more highly related to relationship adjustment. Clinical and research implications are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Minneapolis, MN 55412, USA. christopher.erbes@va.gov
authors.forename: Christopher R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Erbes
authors.forename: Laura A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Meis
authors.forename: Melissa A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Polusny
authors.forename: Jill S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Compton
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011581:Psychological Tests; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult