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Valerie Maine is a 2013 graduate of the PsyD Program in Clinical Psychology at Antioch University, New England

Keywords

PTSD, post-combat, post-deployment, couples, adjustment, measurement, OEF, OIF, posttraumatic stress disorder, veterans, wives, partners, husbands

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Date

2013

Abstract

This dissertation presents the results of a psychometric study regarding the preliminary validation of The Post-Combat Couple Adjustment Questionnaire (PCCAQ). This measure was designed to assess post-combat and post-deployment adjustment for male veterans and their female partners. The measure was created using existing literature on veterans, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and couples. The PCCAQ consists of four domains of couple functioning, including: (a) redefining roles, expectations, and division of household responsibilities; (b) managing strong emotions; (c) abandoning emotional constriction and creating intimacy in relationships; and (d) creating a sense of shared meaning surrounding the deployment experience. The PCCAQ was compared to two other couples measures: the Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (RDAS; Busby et al., 1995) and the Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS; Hendrick, 1988). The survey was distributed online through surveymonkey.com and was completed by 31 male veterans (from Operation Enduring Freedom [OEF] and Operation Iraqi Freedom [OIF]) and 60 female partners of OEF and OIF veterans. The results were analyzed using quantitative methods. Results indicate that the PCCAQ has strong internal consistency and strong split-half reliability. The four domains of the PCCAQ were highly correlated with one another, indicating that the four domains fit together into a larger construct (i.e., post-deployment adjustment). In addition, results indicated moderate to strong correlations between the PCCAQ and the RDAS and RAS. The female partner form was more strongly correlated with the other two measures than the veteran form, indicating the likely presence of additional adjustment issues for veterans (i.e., adjustment to PTSD symptoms and civilian life). Overall, the PCCAQ appears to be a sound assessment tool for the measurement of post-deployment adjustment in couples. Interpretations, as well as discussions regarding the limitations of this study and future research are offered.

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