Traumatic events can cause major disruptions to one's life, including changes in emotional regulation, impairment of memory and attention, and alteration of social functioning. Such experiences are often associated with mood disturbances, which can be highly impactful on interpersonal relationships and communication patterns. Deployment is considered one such event that involves long periods of separation from one's partner and high levels of stress due to unpredictable circumstances and responsibilities. Research suggests that deployment may be linked to increased anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among military members.
These effects are known to affect relational stability, but how trauma-related mood fluctuations play into this has been less studied. This study examined the relationship between trauma exposure and deployment during adulthood and the severity of PTSD symptoms with relationship satisfaction and intimacy in couples who have experienced deployment.
The participants consisted of 104 married or cohabiting couples recruited through online advertisement and snowball sampling. The sample was composed of active duty soldiers, veterans, and civilian partners. All participants were screened for current psychiatric diagnoses and use of substances before inclusion. Trauma history was assessed using the Life Events Checklist (LEC), and deployment status was determined based on self-report. PTSD symptomatology was measured via the Clinician Administered Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Scale (CAPS). Relational variables included relationship satisfaction (RS) and intimacy (INT) as measured by the Dyadic Adjustment Questionnaire (DAQ). Correlations and hierarchical linear regressions were used to analyze the data.
The results showed significant correlations between higher trauma scores and lower RS and INT ratings. Moreover, there was a positive correlation between PTSD symptomatology and RS/INT scores. Regression analyses revealed that trauma scores predicted both RS and INT after controlling for other variables such as gender, age, number of children, and length of relationship. PTSD symptoms accounted for additional variance in RS but not INT scores, indicating that it may be particularly detrimental to relational stability when severe.
These findings demonstrate the potential effects of trauma-related mood fluctuations on relationship quality among military members. They highlight the importance of addressing mental health issues in order to maintain healthy relationships during and following deployment. Future research should explore how trauma exposure affects communication patterns within couples and examine specific interventions aimed at improving relational functioning during deployment.
How do trauma-related mood fluctuations affect relational stability in couples separated by deployment?
"Traumatic experiences can have a significant impact on individuals' mental health, including their ability to regulate their emotions and maintain stable relationships. For those who are in romantic partnerships, deployments of military personnel pose unique challenges that can exacerbate these effects. Deployment separates couples physically and emotionally, which can lead to feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression.