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Evaluation ViewAttendees 9

Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders and Disasters
Symposia

Symposium 100 - The Impact of Interpersonal Trauma on Couple Relationships: Spillover Effects Across Diverse Samples and Methodologies

Saturday, November 16, 2024
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM EST
Location: Regency Ballroom B, Second Floor Mezzanine, Loews Hotel
CE: 1.5

Keywords: Abuse / Maltreatment, PTSD (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder), Couples / Close Relationships
Level of Familiarity: Basic to moderate
Recommended Readings: Birkley, E. L., Eckhardt, C. I., & Dykstra, R. E. (2016). Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, intimate partner violence, and relationship functioning: A meta‐analytic review. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 29(5), 397-405. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.22129,  

Henry, S. B., Smith, D. B., Archuleta, K. L., Sanders‐Hahs, E., Goff, B. S. N., Reisbig, A. M., ... & Scheer, T. (2011). Trauma and couples: Mechanisms in dyadic functioning. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 37(3), 319-332. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2010.00203.x

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Marshall, E. M., & Kuijer, R. G. (2017). Weathering the storm? The impact of trauma on romantic relationships. Current opinion in psychology, 13, 54-59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2016.04.013

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Interpersonal trauma, which transpires when individuals experience violence at the hands of another, involves a sense of betrayal and alterations in safety and trust (e.g., Forbes et al., 2013; Freyd, 1996). Substantial evidence demonstrates links between exposure to interpersonal trauma and individual health consequences including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; Forbes et al., 2013), substance use (Aas et al., 2024), and poorer physical health (López-Martinez et al., 2016). Moreover, in part due to its influence on psychological wellbeing, interpersonal trauma has the potential to affect the health of significant relationships. Indeed, ample research demonstrates spillover effects between PTSD and intimate relationships (Birkley et al., 2016), the significance of which is heightened considering the possibility of intergenerational transmission of trauma. Yet critical gaps in our knowledgebase remain. First, most research examining the effect of interpersonal trauma on intimate relationship functioning is cross-sectional, raising concerns about the extent to which trauma-related sequelae spill over, across time, into key family relationships. Second, scant research investigates these processes among underrepresented groups such as sexual and gender minorities, as well as racially/ethnically diverse families. Third, existing research generally draws upon small samples underpowered to detect effects, raising doubt about the robustness of findings. Finally, research examining mediators and moderators of the link between interpersonal trauma and relationship outcomes is still in its infancy, yet critical for understanding potential points of intervention.
The presentations in this symposium are united in their focus on understanding the influence of interpersonal trauma on couple relationships yet draw from five unique populations in support of this endeavor. First, [redacted] will present epidemiological data drawn from over 14,000 adults to describe longitudinal spillover between exposure to specific types of child maltreatment and intimate partner aggression (IPA). Second, [redacted] will present longitudinal data on over 1600 male and female veterans to examine whether associations between mental health symptoms and poorer family functioning is exacerbated by greater exposure to moral injury. Third, [redacted] will present longitudinal data examining spillover effects of trauma symptoms and negative social support on self-disclosure and relationship satisfaction in a sample of dually trauma-exposed newlywed couples. Fourth, [redacted] will draw upon a daily diary study to examine the role of emotion dysregulation and parenting stress on intimate relationship functioning in a sample of diverse mothers (half racial/ethnic minorities) with PTSD. Fifth, [redacted] will present dyadic data from 364 sexual and gender diverse couples to examine whether problematic alcohol use amplifies the association between PTSD and IPA perpetration. Finally, [redacted], who has published over 200 articles on interpersonal trauma, violence, and abuse, will share her expertise as our discussant.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, the learner will be able to:
  1. Describe long-term effects of interpersonal trauma on couple relationships in diverse populations
  2. Recognize important modifiable factors that affect the risk for negative partner and family outcomes
  3. Enumerate critical next steps for future research in the area of interpersonal trauma and couple relationships
  4. Clinicians will build empathy for individuals whose unhealthy relationship behaviors are contextualized by early experiences of maltreatment.
  5. Clinicians will identify important mechanisms of change relevant to treatment of trauma-exposed individuals and couples.

Presentations:

  • 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM EST
    (SYM 100) Testing the Associations Between Specific Forms of Child Maltreatment and Specific Forms of Domestic Violence Perpetration and Victimization

    Speaker: Valerie Velasco, M.S. (she/her/hers) – Ohio University

  • 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM EST
    (SYM 100) Moral Injury, Mental Health Symptoms, and Family Functioning Among Men and Women Veterans

    Speaker: Emily Taverna, Ph.D. – National Center for PTSD, Women's Health Sciences Division

    Co-author: Katherine Iverson, Ph.D. – National Center for PTSD

    Co-author: Laura Meis, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – National Center for PTSD, Center for Care Delivery & Outcomes Research, Minneapolis VA

    Co-author: Dawne Vogt, PhD – National Center for PTSD

    Co-author: Alexandria N. Miller, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – VA Boston NCPTSD WHSD

    Co-author: Tara Galovski, Ph.D. – VA National Center for PTSD, Boston University School of Medicine

    Co-author: Yael Nillni, PhD – VA Boston Healthcare System

  • 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM EST
    (SYM 100) Trauma Symptoms, Social Support Processes, and Relationship Satisfaction in Newlywed Couples with Dual Histories of Child Maltreatment

    Speaker: Rebecca Nguyen, B.S., M.A. – University of Maryland, Baltimore County

    Co-author: Molly R. Franz, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – University of Maryland, Baltimore County

    Co-author: Emma Archibald, B.S., B.A. – University of Maryland, Baltimore County

    Co-author: David DiLillo, Ph.D. – University of Nebraska-Lincoln

  • 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM EST
    (SYM 100) All in the Family: Exploring Emotion Regulation, Parenting Stress, and Daily Romantic Relationship Functioning Among Mothers with PTSD

    Speaker: Bonnie Woodward, M.A. (she/her/hers) – University of Maryland Baltimore County

    Co-author: Rebecca Nguyen, B.S., M.A. – University of Maryland, Baltimore County

    Co-author: Emma Archibald, B.S., B.A. – University of Maryland, Baltimore County

    Co-author: Molly R. Franz, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – University of Maryland, Baltimore County

  • 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM EST
    (SYM 100) PTSD Symptomatology, Problematic Alcohol Use, and Physical Intimate Partner Aggression: A Dyadic Analysis in Sexual and Gender Diverse Couples

    Speaker: Dominic Parrott, Ph.D. (he/him/his) – Georgia State University

    Co-author: Katherine Masyn, Ph.D. – Georgia State University

    Co-author: Konrad Bresin, Ph.D. (he/him/his) – University of Louisville

    Co-author: Amy Hequembourg, Ph.D. – University of Buffalo

    Co-author: Jessica Grom, M.A. (she/her/hers) – Georgia State University

    Co-author: Cynthia Stappenbeck, Ph.D. – Georgia State University

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