Eva Leven, Psy.D.
Incoming Class of 2008
Internship: Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, Texas
September 2013 Conferral
Spousal Relationships and Coping Following Traumatic Exposure
Chair: Thomas Demaria, Ph.D.
The purpose of this research study was to enhance understanding of the quality of life and marital satisfaction of 9/11 rescue-recovery workers and their spouses in the aftermath of the World Trade Center terrorist attacks. Though the medical and mental health consequences that 9/11 rescue-recovery workers have experienced in the last decade are well-documented, there is a dearth of research focusing on the impact that this traumatic exposure has had on their marriages, and overall daily functioning. Additionally, some studies indicated that although 9/11 rescue-recovery workers continued to report increased clinical symptoms and a decreased overall quality of life in the years following this attack, their spouses have generally reported that their own symptom levels remain unchanged, despite experiencing an overall decrease in quality of life, as well. Such findings suggest that a difference in core beliefs, coping mechanisms, and/or perception and appraisal of traumatic events may be at play among 9/11 First Responders (also known as 9/11 rescue-recovery workers), versus their spouses. Exploration of the underlining psychological and cognitive functioning of these demographic groups may explain these distinctly different adaptations to disruptions in the marital life cycle and overall quality of life. In this study, cognitive functioning of 9/11 First Responders and of their spouses was analyzed through various self-report measures aimed to examine respondents’ ability to structure, organize, and process information across multiple domains. Specifically, measures were implemented that aimed to detect the presence or absence of post-traumatic symptoms, as well as to assess participants’ decision-making styles(s) and competence in decision-making. Major findings revealed that among 9/11 First Responders, decision-making styles and reported levels of psychopathology were both strongly and moderately related to marital satisfaction, respectively, and that reported levels of psychopathology correlated with overall quality of life, as well. In contrast, spouses of 9/11 First Responders did not demonstrate statistically significant relationships between marital satisfaction and decision-making, levels of traumatic impact, or levels of psychopathology. This population did, however, reveal a strong relationship between levels of psychopathology and overall quality of life. These findings point to future research opportunities when examining 9/11 First Responder couples, and suggests that spousal relationships and coping following traumatic exposure may vary in distinctly different ways.