Partners of veterans with PTSD: parenting and family experiences

Violette E. McGaw; Andrea E. Reupert; Darryl Maybery

doi:10.1177/1044389420905753

Partners of veterans with PTSD: parenting and family experiences

Violette E. McGaw, Andrea E. Reupert, Darryl Maybery

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Partners raising children are significantly impacted by living with a veteran who has posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This qualitative study explored the parenting and family experiences of partners to veterans with military-PTSD. In-depth interviews were conducted with eight female partners, caring for at least one child below the age of 18 years. Thematic analysis produced four primary themes around parenting, (dis)connection, family identity, and unpredictability. A number of contrasting concepts such as feeling unsupported, yet reluctance to access support, highlighted the complexity of partner experiences. Clear recommendations arose from the study including greater in inclusion in health care, the need for upskilling of service providers and educators in area of family and parenting issues, and clearer pathways for spouses and families to access information.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	456-468
Number of pages	13
Journal	Families in Society
Volume	101
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/1044389420905753
Publication status	Published - Oct 2020

Keywords

parental mental illness
parenting
partners of veterans
PTSD
qualitative research
military families

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1177/1044389420905753

Cite this

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AB - Partners raising children are significantly impacted by living with a veteran who has posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This qualitative study explored the parenting and family experiences of partners to veterans with military-PTSD. In-depth interviews were conducted with eight female partners, caring for at least one child below the age of 18 years. Thematic analysis produced four primary themes around parenting, (dis)connection, family identity, and unpredictability. A number of contrasting concepts such as feeling unsupported, yet reluctance to access support, highlighted the complexity of partner experiences. Clear recommendations arose from the study including greater in inclusion in health care, the need for upskilling of service providers and educators in area of family and parenting issues, and clearer pathways for spouses and families to access information.

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Partners of veterans with PTSD: parenting and family experiences

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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