The Association Between Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Relationship Satisfaction Among Married Male and Female Service Members

Introduction: Relationship distress among service members (SM) may impair concentration and mission success. Posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) from military stressors can strain relationships. With half of active duty SMs being married, understanding how PTSS impact marriages is vital for readiness and retention. This study assessed how PTSS affected relationship satisfaction, aggression, emotional regulation difficulties, social support, and family functioning among married SMs. Materials and Methods: Participants (male n = 101; female n = 29) completed an online survey via Survey Monkey. Recruitment occurred through Prolific and snowball strategies. Measures included the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale Short Form, Buss & Perry Aggression Questionnaire Short Form, the Deployment Risk & Resilience Inventory-2, and a relationship satisfaction single question. Results: PTSS were significantly correlated with most constructs except relationship satisfaction (P = .058). Expected negative correlations between PTSS and relationship satisfaction were found among male SMs but not females. Emotional regulation difficulties predicted PTSS for both sexes (males: P < .001; females: P = .015). Sex-specific patterns emerged: aggression significantly predicted PTSS for males (P < .001) only; family functioning was a significant, negative predictor for females (P = .01) only. For males, emotional regulation difficulties fully mediated the association between PTSS and relationship satisfaction while aggression did not. PTSS were positively associated with emotional regulation difficulties and aggression (P < .001). However, only emotional regulation difficulties were significantly related to relationship satisfaction (P = .020), supporting mediation. No significant association between PTSS and relationship satisfaction was found for females (P = .915). Conclusions: Results contribute to the growing literature on PTSS and relationship satisfaction, suggesting sex differences in its impact. Results caution against generalizing results from male to female SMs. Clinically, results emphasize the need for sex-informed, emotion regulation-focused interventions to improve relational functioning and readiness among married SMs.