Intimate partners\u27 perception of OIF veterans\u27 combat exposure and satisfaction: Does knowledge of combat act as a buffer longitudinally?

Research indicates that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) negatively affects the romantic relationships of service members and their partners; however, few studies have identified or examined moderators of the relationship between PTSD and relationship satisfaction. The current study examined the association between partner\u27s relationship satisfaction and soldier\u27s self-reported PTSD, and whether this link was moderated by intimate partner\u27s perception of the soldier\u27s combat exposure. It was expected that partner\u27s perceptions of soldier\u27s combat exposure would moderate the relationship between soldier\u27s PTSD and partner\u27s satisfaction such that when partners perceived low levels of combat exposure, soldier\u27s PTSD would be negatively associated with partner\u27s relationship satisfaction. Data were draw from a longitudinal study of National Guard soldiers and their intimate partners (N = 52 couples). Participants provided data on self-reported symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, combat exposure (perceived and experienced), service use, and relationship satisfaction at two time points (4 months and 1 year) following the soldier\u27s return from deployment. Partner\u27s perception of soldier\u27s combat exposure did not moderate the relationship between soldier\u27s PTSD and partner\u27s relationship satisfaction at either time point. Soldier\u27s use of available services also did not moderate the relationship between soldier\u27s PTSD and partner\u27s relationship satisfaction at either measurement occasion. These findings as well as the results of exploratory analyses are presented and areas of future research are suggested