The role of problem solving appraisal and support in the relationship between stress exposure and posttraumatic stress symptoms of military spouses and service member partners
Research Report:
Research SummaryAPA Citation:
Sullivan, K. S., Park, Y., Richardson, S., Stander, V., & Jaccard, J. (2024). The role of problem solving appraisal and support in the relationship between stress exposure and posttraumatic stress symptoms of military spouses and service member partners. Stress & Health. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1002/smi.3371
Abstract Created by REACH:
This study examined whether military spouses’ problem-solving resources mitigated the negative effects of stressful experiences on their own and their Service member’s posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). 3,314 military couples from the Millennium Cohort Family Study reported their exposure to childhood maltreatment, past-year nonmilitary stressors (e.g., financial problems), and past-year military stressors (e.g., relocation, deployment) as predictors of PTSS severity. Spouses also reported how confident they were in their ability to handle unexpected problems (i.e., positive problem-solving appraisal) and their social support in managing problems (i.e., problem-solving support). Overall, spouses’ problem-solving resources buffered the negative effects of stressful experiences for themselves and Service members.
Focus:
Couples
Mental health
Trauma
Branch of Service:
Multiple branches
Military Affiliation:
Active Duty
Subject Affiliation:
Active duty service member
Spouse of service member or veteran
Population:
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
Aged (65 yrs & older)
Methodology:
Longitudinal Study
Cross-Sectional Study
Authors:
Sullivan, Kathrine S., Park, Yangjin, Richardson, Sabrina, Stander, Valerie, Jaccard, James
Abstract:
Using a stress process lens, this paper considers the interrelationship between individual and family-level stress exposures and military spouse resources, including problem-solving appraisals and problem-solving support (PSS), and their associations with posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) among both partners in military marital dyads. The study employs data from the Millennium Cohort Family Study, a longitudinal survey of married military dyads, with an initial panel of 9,872 spouses enroled from 2011 to 2013. A structural equation model explored the associations between service member and spouse childhood maltreatment exposure, nonmilitary and military stressors, as well as interactions with spouse resources on self-reported PTSS among both service member (SM) and spouse (SP). Among our findings, spouse childhood maltreatment muted later self-reported problem-solving appraisal and support. Spouse resources, in turn, had both protective (problem-solving appraisal) and promotive (problem-solving support) effects on PTSS for both service members and spouses. These findings emphasise the central role of spouses in military families, as more psychological resources among spouses appeared to buffer against the deleterious effects of stress exposure on both their own and their partners mental health.
Publication Type:
Article
REACH Publication
Keywords:
problem solving, couple dyads, stress exposure, ptsd
REACH Publication Type:
Research Summary
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