Sexual Satisfaction in Spouses of Ex-POWs: The Role of PTSD Symptoms and Self-Differentiation

Abstract

Spouses of former prisoners-of-war (ex-POWs) are at risk for posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and marital distress. This study assessed the implications of PTSS and self-differentiation for sexual satisfaction among 90 ex-POWs’ spouses and 75 matched combatants’ spouses from the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Standardized questionnaires were used. Ex-POWs’ spouses had elevated PTSS and imbalanced self-differentiation. PTSS were associated with poorer self-differentiation and lower sexual satisfaction. Imbalanced self-differentiation mediated the association between PTSS and sexual satisfaction. The findings imply that PTSS and imbalanced self-differentiation contribute to low sexual satisfaction among spouses of primary trauma survivors.