An exploration of potential pressures to engage in parenting accommodation of PTSD symptoms for military couples
Research Report:
Research SummaryAPA Citation:
Allen, E. S., Renshaw, K. D., & Fredman, S. J. (2023). An exploration of potential pressures to engage in parenting accommodation of PTSD symptoms for military couples. Family Process. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12858
Abstract Created by REACH:
Partner accommodation refers to partners of individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) altering their behavior in response to the individual’s symptoms, and it often has a negative effect on relationships. This study examined how accommodation was related to various aspects of family functioning in 193 military couples. Women spouses of Soldiers reported on their parenting accommodation (e.g., taking over parenting responsibilities), general partner accommodation (e.g., avoidance of triggering topics), and child behavioral difficulties (e.g., hyperactivity). Both partners reported on Soldiers’ PTSD symptoms as well as their marital satisfaction, parenting alliance (e.g., sense of parenting teamwork), closeness with children, and harsh parenting. Overall, when spouses engaged in more parenting accommodation, both partners reported lower levels of parenting alliance and higher levels of harsh parenting.
Focus:
Couples
Parents
Children
Branch of Service:
Army
Military Affiliation:
Active Duty
Veteran
Subject Affiliation:
Active duty service member
Spouse of service member or veteran
Veteran
Population:
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
Methodology:
Quantitative Study
Cross sectional study
Secondary Analysis
Authors:
Allen, Elizabeth S., Renshaw, Keith D., Fredman, Steffany J.
Abstract:
In the context of service member posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, intimate partners may experience pressure to take over parenting roles and run interference between the service member and the children; that is, to engage in partner accommodation focal to parenting. The current study quantitatively assessed potential pressures to engage in parenting accommodation (PPEPA) in a sample of 207 female partners married to male service members with at least one child in the home and the convergence of PPEPA with service member PTSD symptoms, general partner accommodation, couple functioning, parenting, and child functioning. Partners' reports of PPEPA were associated with higher levels of service member PTSD symptoms and partners' general accommodation of PTSD symptoms. When controlling for service member PTSD symptoms and general partner accommodation, partner reports of PPEPA still accounted for unique variance in lower parenting alliance (as reported by both service member and partner), lower levels of service members' reports of closeness with children in the home, higher levels of harsh parenting by both the service member and partner, and greater child behavioral difficulties. Findings support PPEPA as related to partners' accommodative responses to PTSD but demonstrating unique associations with parenting alliance, parenting, and child outcomes. Parenting interventions in the context of PTSD may benefit from conjoint or family approaches that attend to the intersection of PTSD and broader family functioning, including pressures to engage in accommodation focal to the parenting domain.
Publication Type:
Article
REACH Publication
Keywords:
PTSD, military, couples, parenting, accommodation
REACH Publication Type:
Research Summary
REACH Newsletter: