TY - JOUR PY - 2019// TI - "I'm still fighting for the two of us": how partners of UK veterans construct their experience of living with combat-related trauma JO - Journal of marital and family therapy A1 - Doncaster, Emily A1 - Hiskey, Syd A1 - McPherson, Susan A1 - Andrews, Leanne SP - 464 EP - 479 VL - 45 IS - 3 N2 - There has been little qualitative research into the experiences of UK partners of veterans with PTSD. This study therefore aimed to explore how partners constructed their experiences of living with the condition. Fifteen female partners of male UK veterans were recruited and interviewed. Using a social constructionist thematic analysis, five themes were constructed: the women's need to subdue own emotional and behavioral responses; dilemmas about whether the veteran was unwell or 'bad'; attempts at negotiating multiple roles; challenging the narrative of veterans as heroes; and the relational struggle with the transition to nonmilitary life. This study highlighted the importance of considering the veteran as existing within a relational and cultural context, and the need to include partners in therapeutic interventions.
Language: en
LA - en SN - 0194-472X UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12340 ID - ref1 ER -