Resumen de Couple functioning and post-traumatic stress symptoms in US army couples: The role of resilience

Kristal C. Melvin, Deborah Gross, Matthew J. Hayat, Bonnie Mowinski Jennings, Jacquelyn C Campbell

• The purpose of this study was to investigate combat-related post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and couple relationships in Army couples. US Army combat veteran couples (N?=?66 couples) completed self-report questionnaires on couple functioning, coercion, resilience, and PTSS. In 23% of the couples (n?=?15), both members had PTSS above the clinical cut-off for suspected Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Higher levels of PTSS were associated with lower couple functioning and resilience. Individuals with high resilience scores reported higher couple functioning scores, regardless of PTSS (p?=?.004). Future researchers should focus on the role of resilience in relation to couple functioning, and ways to amplify resilience in military couples