Symposia
Couples / Close Relationships
Mollie E. Shin, M.A. (she/her/hers)
Doctoral Student
University of Colorado Denver
Denver, Colorado
Elizabeth Allen, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Psychology
University of Colorado Denver
Denver, CO
Kayla Knopp, Ph.D.
Post-Doctoral Fellow
VA San Diego Health Care System
San Diego, California
Howard Markman, PhD
John Evans Distinguished Professor of Psychology
University of Denver
Denver, Colorado
Scott Stanley, Ph.D.
Research Professor
University of Denver
Denver, Colorado
Military related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an established predictor of relationship distress among military couples. Relationship distress, in turn, is a primary predictor of divorce. Past studies have indicated that certain relationship processes may influence the impact that PTSD has on marital satisfaction; however, few studies have examined divorce as an outcome, and to our knowledge, no studies have examined dedication to the marriage as a moderator of potential links between PTSD and divorce. The current study examines the degree to which dedication (commitment) may influence the relationship between service member (SM) PTSD symptoms and likelihood of divorce among military couples. The first aim involved using baseline SM PTSD symptoms and dedication to predict marital dissolution in a sample of military couples (N = 604) over the following eight years. Results revealed significant main effects wherein lower levels of baseline couple dedication (B = -.784, p < .05), and higher levels of baseline service member PTSD (B = .014, p < .001) were each significant predictors of later marital dissolution. However, dedication did not significantly moderate the association between SM PTSD and later marital dissolution (B = -.007, p =.541). The second aim of the current study is to evaluate how SM PTSD symptoms predict dedication over time, and how SM PTSD symptoms and dedication over time predict marital dissolution. Specifically, we hypothesize that, over time, higher initial levels of SM PTSD will relate to decreases in dedication over time and that increasing SM PTSD and decreasing dedication over time will covary. Additionally, we hypothesize that increasing SM PTSD symptoms and decreasing couple dedication, and the interaction of these factors, will predict later marital dissolution. This second aim will be tested using a latent curve model. Results are pending but will be completed prior to presentation. Findings may illuminate the interactive processes between individual mental health and relationship resilience that predict marital stability or dissolution for military couples, and suggest intervention targets when military couples are faced with PTSD, a significant marital stressor.