Suicidal ideation among former prisoners of war's wives – a longitudinal dyadic study

Abstract

IntroductionThe long-term associations between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and suicidal ideation (SI) among ex-prisoners of war (ex-POWs) has recently been exemplified. Several studies have revealed the toll of war captivity on secondary traumatization’ (ST) of ex-POWs’ wives. However, a question remains regarding the possible SI among ex-POWs’ wives.ObjectivesUnderstanding of SI phenomena among wives of severely traumatized ex-POWs in a longitudinal dyadic designed study.AimsAssessment of SI among ex-POWs’ wives and the longitudinal associations with their husbands’ PTSD. We also aim to assess the moderating role of the couple's dyadic adjustment in these associations.MethodA sample of 233 Israeli couples (142 ex-POWs couples and a comparison group of 91 veteran couples) completed self-report measures at two time points: T1 30 (2003-4) and T2 37 (2010) years after the ‘Yom Kipur’ 1973 war.ResultsSurprisingly, no significant differences were found between ex-POWs wives and veterans’ wives, with and without husbands’ PTSD, in SI at T1 and T2. Only among ex-POW couples, an increase in the husband's level of PTSD and SI was related to a more moderate increase in their wives’ SI between T1 and T2. Interestingly, the more a wife reported positive dyadic adjustment, the more moderate the increase in her SI between T1 to T2, regardless of the study group.ConclusionsSuicidal ideation among ex-POWs’ wives is closely related to their husbands’ PTSD and is moderated by their perception of marital adjustment.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.