Couple forgiveness, self-differentiation and secondary traumatization among wives of former POWs

This study explored secondary traumatization among wives of former POWs. Forgiveness and self-differentiation were investigated for their role in wives’mental and marital distress. Participants included wives (N 1⁄4 82) of former Israeli POWs (18 with PTSD [posttraumatic stress disorder] and 64 without PTSD) and a control group of 72 women whose husbands fought in the war but who were neither POWs nor suffered from PTSD. Compared to the other two groups, wives of former POWs with PTSD reported lower couple forgiveness and self-differentiation. High self-differentiation predicted low emotional and marital distress, whereas high couple forgiveness reduced only marital distress. Self-differentiation moderated the relationships between couple forgiveness and both types of distress. Findings highlight the challenges women face when living with partners with PTSD.