Date of Award
2016
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Psychology
Abstract
Since the start of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, there has been an increased prevalence of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), as well as an increased desire to include family members in the treatment of veterans. Although social support has been shown to be related to treatment outcome, caregiver burden can impact a partners ability to provide support to the veteran during treatment. The present study examined the relationship between veteran PTSD symptoms and partner burden as well as factors that influence that association. Archival data collected as part of a study on Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavioral Conjoint Therapy for PTSD (MB-CBCT) and relationship function with veterans from Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) and their partners were utilized. Additional veterans and their partners were recruited from the same Veterans Affairs Hospital as the MB-CBCT study. Veterans completed a self-report measure of PTSD symptoms, and their partners completed measures of relationship satisfaction, psychological functioning, and burden. It was hypothesized that veteran PTSD symptoms, and partner relationship satisfaction and psychological functioning, would be significantly related to partner burden, and that partner relationship satisfaction and psychological functioning would moderate the association between veteran PTSD symptoms and partner burden. Findings indicated that veteran PTSD symptoms, partner relationship satisfaction, and partner psychological functioning were related to partner feelings of burden. However, partner psychological functioning and/or partner relationship satisfaction did not moderate the relationship between veteran PTSD symptoms and partner burden. Exploratory analyses revealed that partner depression partially mediated the relationship between veteran PTSD symptoms and partner burden, and partner ratings of burden fully mediated the relationship between veteran PTSD symptoms and partner relationship satisfaction. There were several limitations of the study, particularly small sample size. Nevertheless, the results have implications for the treatment needs of partners of veterans with PTSD.
Recommended Citation
Ertl, Michelle D., "Factors Influencing The Association Between Combat-Related Ptsd And Partner Burden" (2016). All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1619.
https://scholars.indianastate.edu/etds/1619