Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms impact the emotional experience of intimacy during couple discussions

Leifker, Feea R.; White, Kaitlin Hanley; Blandon, Alysia Y.; Marshall, Amy D.

doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2014.11.005

Cited by 13 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…This process may reflect partner accommodation to PTSD symptoms (Fredman, Vorstenbosch, Wagner, Macdonald, & Monson, ). Although it is seemingly counterintuitive, this pattern of results falls in line with prior findings from this sample (Leifker et al., ) showing that individuals with a higher level of PTSD symptom severity experienced increased negative emotion following the receipt of intimacy behaviors, suggesting that partner expression of positive emotion may lead to a more negative emotional state among individuals with more severe PTSD symptoms, even during positive discussions. This negative emotional state may increase the likelihood of violence and could be a factor influencing associations between lower positive expressivity and decreased IPV perpetration.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) negatively impacts intimate relationships in a variety of domains, including relationship distress, intimacy, and marital functioning (Birkley, Eckhardt, & Dykstra, ; Lambert, Engh, Hasbun, & Holzer, ; Leifker, White, Blandon, & Marshall, ). Notably, PTSD symptoms are consistently associated with higher levels of physical intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration among both women and men (e.g., Taft, Watkins, Stafford, Street, & Monson, ).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Observed Emotional Expressivity, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms, and Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration Among Community Couples

Sullivan

Leifker

Marshall

2018

Journal of Traumatic Stress

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Impaired emotional processes are related to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and are implicated in intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration. To address the interpersonal context of PTSD, emotion, and IPV, we examined interactions among one's own and one's partner's emotional expressivity and PTSD symptom severity in association with IPV perpetration. Heterosexual couples (N = 56) in which at least one partner met screening criteria for PTSD engaged in two video-recorded discussions about negative and positive aspects of their relationships. Videos were coded for observed emotional expressiveness during moments participants reported experiencing significant emotions. Actor-partner interdependence models revealed few main effects of emotional expressivity, except that women's expressivity of positive emotions was positively associated with men's IPV perpetration, r = .14. Emotional expressivity played a larger role among couples managing PTSD symptoms; that is, the association between one's own PTSD symptom severity and more IPV perpetration was stronger among men who expressed more negative emotions, r = .19, and women who expressed fewer negative emotions, r = .21. Several partner effects suggested the importance of understanding the dyadic nature of these constructs. For example, men's PTSD symptom severity was differentially associated with each partners' IPV perpetration based on women's expressivity of positive emotion, r = .22-.27. Understanding of emotional expressivity in the link between PTSD and IPV must include consideration of gender differences in how these constructs operate interpersonally. Strategies to promote moderate and safe communication of positive and negative emotions may prevent IPV escalation, particularly among couples managing PTSD symptoms.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Observed Emotional Expressivity, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms, and Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration Among Community Couples

Sullivan

Leifker

Marshall

2018

Journal of Traumatic Stress

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“…Several researchers have also investigated more overt interpersonal behaviors in the context of the link between PTSD and relationship functioning. Using self-report, partner-report, and objective coding, investigators have documented associations of survivors’ PTSD symptoms with deficits in overall communication, self-disclosure, social skills, expressiveness, humor, active social coping, support provision, and constructive problem solving (Al-Turkait & Ohaeri, 2008; Carroll, Rueger, Foy, & Donahoe, 1985; Hanley, Leifker, Blandon, & Marshall, 2013; Hendrix et al, 1998; LaMotte et al, 2017; Miller, et al, 2013; Solomon, Waysman, Avitzur, & Enoch, 1991; Tsai et al, 2012; Westerink & Giarratano, 1999), as well as increased fear, sadness, and guilt in response to pro-relationship behaviors (Leifker, White, Blandon, & Marshall, 2015). Others have documented similar behavioral deficits in partners (e.g., Bakhurst, McGuire, & Halford, 2018; Hanley et al, 2013; Solomon et al, 1991; Westerink & Giarratano, 1999), and some researchers have again shown such deficits to be particularly tied to symptoms of avoidance/ emotional numbing (e.g., Hendrix et al, 1998; LaMotte et al, 2017).…”

Section: Mediatorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Posttraumatic stress disorder and relationship functioning: A comprehensive review and organizational framework

Campbell

Renshaw

2018

Clinical Psychology Review

104

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Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with impairments in relationship functioning. Beyond the abundance of research that has demonstrated this basic link, more recent research has begun to explore possible mediators and moderators of this association. The present paper reviews and synthesizes existing literature in the context of an overarching organizational framework of potential ways in which PTSD impacts relationship functioning. The framework organizes findings in terms of specific elements of PTSD and comorbid conditions, mediators (factors that are posited to explain or account for the association), and moderators (factors that are posited to alter the strength of the association). Specific symptoms of PTSD, comorbid symptoms, and many of the potential mediators explored have extensive overlap, raising questions of possible tautology and redundancy in findings. Some findings suggest that non-specific symptoms, such as depression or anger, account for more variance in relationship impairments than trauma-specific symptoms, such as re-experiencing. Moderators, which are characterized as individual, relational, or environmental in nature, have been the subject of far less research in comparison to other factors. Recommendations for future research and clinical implications of the findings reviewed are also presented.

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“…Moreover, intimacy is linked with greater self-disclosure (Reis, 2017), and greater self-disclosure is linked with reduced PTSD symptoms in veterans (Hoyt & Renshaw, 2014). At the same time, some research suggests that perceived intimacy may enhance negative momentary reactivity of those with PTSD (Leifker, White, Blandon, & Marshall, 2015). Thus, intimacy appears to be essential to healthy relationship functioning and an important but complex factor in the relationships of individuals with PTSD.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Daily Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Accommodation and Relationship Functioning in Military Couples

Campbell

Renshaw

2018

Family Process

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Romantic partners' accommodation of trauma survivors' posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms (e.g., taking on tasks, survivors avoid participating in social withdrawal) is associated with lower relationship satisfaction for both partners and survivors. Little is known about associations of partner accommodation with other aspects of relationship functioning, like intimacy. Sixty-four male military veterans with at least subclinical PTSD and their partners participated in a 2-week daily diary study. Veterans completed nightly measures of PTSD symptoms, while female partners completed nightly measures of accommodating behaviors performed that day. Both partners reported feelings of intimacy each night. Multilevel models revealed that accommodation was significantly, negatively associated with feelings of intimacy, with stronger effects for partners (t = -8.70) than for veterans (t = -5.40), and stronger effects when veterans had lower (t = -7.43) rather than higher (t = -5.20) levels of daily PTSD symptoms. Therapists should consider accommodating behaviors as a potential impediment to relationship intimacy, particularly when veterans have less severe symptoms of PTSD. Accommodating behaviors are an ideal treatment target in behavioral couple therapies.

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Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms impact the emotional experience of intimacy during couple discussions

Cited by 13 publications

References 33 publications

Observed Emotional Expressivity, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms, and Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration Among Community Couples

Observed Emotional Expressivity, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms, and Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration Among Community Couples

Posttraumatic stress disorder and relationship functioning: A comprehensive review and organizational framework

Daily Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Accommodation and Relationship Functioning in Military Couples

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