There is no argument that when disaster or crisis strikes, first responders run towards trauma while civilians flee. While the first responders seek to save everyone else, they often neglect to save themselves, psychologically and physically. First responders are exposed to psychological and physical stress on a daily basis. Allen et al. (2010) reported these daily stressors include death, severe injury, witnessing or participating in incidents where rescue involves preventing death, or treating serious or severe injury. Research has shown that PTSD is associated with lower relationship satisfactions and higher marital conflict and yielded moderate effect sized for the association between PTSD and the survivor’s perceived relationship quality (Lambert, Engh, Hasbun & Holzer, 2012).
First responders are at greater risk for PTSD than a majority of other occupations due to their routine exposure with traumatic stressors (Haugen, Evces, & Weiss, 2012). The divorce rate among first responders has been said to be much higher than the national average, however, due to the lack of research on first responder marriages, these claims cannot be founded in research. Posttraumatic stress disorder has been shown to lead to marital discord.
Research also suggests that PTSD effects intimacy between couples, Bergstrom (2013) reported that veterans with PTSD are less likely to express intimacy in their relationship due to feeling less sexual satisfaction, reduction in engaging in sex and reduced sexual functioning. Henry et al. (2011) reported that as couples continue to cope and adjust to PTSD symptoms preoccupation with the trauma experience itself interferes with sexual and emotional intimacy due to feeling uncomfortable or dealing with issues of self esteem. Research suggests that social support, especially from an intimate partner or spouse, may counteract or reduce PTSD symptoms when quality social support is present (Gerlock, Grimesey & Sayre, 2014).
Haugen, Evces and Weiss (2012) estimated 400,000 first responders in the United States are suffering with PTSD, yet there is a continued deficit in treatment and research for first responders. This lack of treatment implies a lack of social support for first responders afflicted with PTSD. The lack of social support implies a pattern for first responders to not seek help or identify acute symptoms as PTSD related or even career related (Cacciatore, Carlson, Michaelis, Kilmek & Steffan, 2011).
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