Far away, so close: The role of self-differentiation in psychopathology among spouses of ex-POWs and comparable combatants.

Publisher: Wiley Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 0217132 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1097-4679 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00219762 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Clin Psychol Subsets: MEDLINE

Publication: <2005-> : Hoboken, N.J. : Wiley
Original Publication: Brandon, Vt. [etc.] Clinical Psychology Pub. Co.

Interpersonal Relations* ; Self Concept*; Compassion Fatigue/*psychology ; Prisoners of War/*psychology ; Spouses/*psychology; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Emotional Adjustment ; Female ; Humans ; Israel ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prisoners of War/statistics & numerical data ; Self Report ; Spouses/statistics & numerical data ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/psychology

Objective: War captivity entails severe posttraumatic implications for ex-prisoners of war (POWs) and their partners. This study examines the role of self-differentiation in secondary traumatization and dyadic adjustment among ex-POWs' spouses.
Methods: A total of 106 spouses of Israeli ex-POWs and 56 matched spouses of ex-combatants completed self-report questionnaires assessing secondary posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms (SPS), self-differentiation (fusion, cut-off, balanced), general psychiatric distress (GPD), and dyadic adjustment.
Results: Ex-POWs' spouses reported lower dyadic adjustment and higher levels of SPS, GPD, and fusion and cut-off differentiation, compared to ex-combatants' spouses. A "mixed" differentiation style characterized by high levels of both fusion and cut-off was associated with particularly high distress levels. Fusion differentiation moderated the association between SPS/GPD and dyadic adjustment.
Conclusion: Self-differentiation plays an important role in posttraumatic spousal relationships. Women showing unstable differentiation may be particularly vulnerable when living with a veteran. Treatments for posttraumatic couples should target dysregulated interpersonal distance and promote adaptive differentiation.
(© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

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Keywords: PTSD; secondary traumatization; self-differentiation; spouses; war captivity

Date Created: 20200527 Date Completed: 20210708 Latest Revision: 20210708

20221213

10.1002/jclp.22965

32453878