Relationship Functioning in Vietnam Veteran Couples: The Roles of PTSD and Anger.
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anger have been implicated separately in relationship dysfunction for veterans; however, no studies have simultaneously examined the roles of each of these constructs.



This study examined the roles of PTSD and anger in the relationships of Vietnam veterans and their partners (n = 33 couples) with actor-partner interdependence modeling (APIM). Couples in which the veteran was diagnosed with PTSD (PTSD-positive; n = 20) were compared to couples in which the veteran did not have PTSD (PTSD-negative; n = 13) on measures of frequency of anger and relationship functioning.



PTSD-positive and PTSD-negative couples reported similar levels of relationship functioning, yet PTSD-positive veterans reported experiencing anger significantly more often than PTSD-negative veterans. Across groups, anger was predictive of relationship functioning, but PTSD severity was not.



Trait anger may have a more deleterious effect on relationship functioning than PTSD symptoms. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.
Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Erika.Roberge@utah.edu.|National Center for Veterans Studies & The University of Utah. Erika.Roberge@utah.edu.
Erika M
EM
Roberge
Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Nathaniel J
NJ
Allen
Charles George Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Judith W
JW
Taylor
National Center for Veterans Studies & The University of Utah.
Craig J
CJ
Bryan
D000368:Aged; D000786:Anger; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D047829:Vietnam Conflict
Vietnam veteran; actor-partner interdependence model; anger; couples; posttraumatic stress disorder; relationship functioning