Abstract
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.