Posttraumatic stress disorder and relationship satisfaction among firefighters: the role of emotion regulation difficulties
Open accessAbstract
Firefighters are exposed to potentially traumatic events throughout their careers, placing them at heightened risk for the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Individuals experiencing PTSD symptoms often experience interpersonal problems and relationship stress, and this may be due to emotion regulation difficulties. The current study examined the association between PTSD symptoms, couple relationship satisfaction, and emotion regulation difficulties among firefighters. Participants were comprised of 188 firefighters (Mage = 41.32, SD = 9.25, 97.3% male) who completed an online questionnaire. Results indicated that PTSD symptom severity was negatively associated with relationship satisfaction and positively associated with emotion regulation difficulties. Additionally, there was a significant negative indirect effect of PTSD symptom severity on relationship satisfaction through heightened emotion regulation difficulties. Negative alterations in cognition and mood were especially relevant to emotion regulation difficulties and relationship satisfaction. Findings highlight the importance of understanding associations between PTSD and interpersonal functioning among firefighters. Emotion regulation difficulties may offer a clinically relevant transdiagnostic factor for targeting PTSD symptoms and relationship functioning among firefighters.
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Difficulties in emotion regulation mediated the influence of PTSD symptom severity on relationship satisfaction in fire fighters.
“Difficulties in emotion regulation mediated the influence of PTSD symptom severity on relationship satisfaction in fire fighters (60).”
From Pilot outcomes and exploration of treatment mechanisms using a culturally adapted version of the unified protocol for transdiagnostic treatment of emotional disorders to improve mental health symptoms, alcohol misuse, functional outcomes, and sleep quality in emergency responders (2025) · cites this paper as [60]
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- Authors
- Godfrey, D. A., Zegel, M., Babcock, J. C., & Vujanovic, A. A.
- Affiliations
- University of Houston (US)
- Corresponding author
- Vujanovic, Anka A.
- Venue
- Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2022-02-24
- Volume
- 31
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 356-369
- ISSN
- 1092-6771 (ISSN-L)
- 1545-083X
- PMC
- PMC9122019
- OpenAlex
- W4213451230
- Cited by
- 9
- References
- 30
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 4
- FWCI
- 1.83
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Journal of Aggression Maltreatment & Trauma (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA F31 AA029022)
- National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD U54 MD015946)
- University of Houston
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Occupational Therapy › Occupational Health and Performance
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Disorders and Psychopathology
- Keywords
- post-traumatic stress disorder, firefighters, relationship satisfaction, couple relationships, emotional dysregulation, interpersonal functioning, PTSD symptom severity, transdiagnostic factors, occupational trauma exposure
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