A Systemic Perspective on Military Service Members’ and Their Partners’ Perception of PTSD and Reintegration Stress: A Dyadic Analysis

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) results from exposure to intense and prolonged traumatic circumstances. PTSD is associated with relational difficulties, such as communication difficulties, lower intensity and frequency of intimacy, and frequent parenting disagreements. Using linked data from service members and their partners, the present study investigates service members’ and their partners’ perceptions of how PTSD diagnosis and symptoms interfere with their daily life. We also investigate how the perception of PTSD diagnosis and symptoms may relate to service members’ and their partners’ reintegration stress levels. Results show that the presence of PTSD symptoms influences reintegration stress levels for both service members and their partners. These results support the importance of using a systemic approach, particularly couple therapy, when working with reintegrating veterans and their partners for healthy and effective reintegration.