I have to hold it together: Trauma in law enforcement couples

• Published date: 01 October 2022
• Author: Avery R. Campbell,Ashley L. Landers,Jeffrey B. Jackson
• Date: 01 October 2022
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12661

RESEARCH

I have to hold it together: Trauma in law

enforcement couples

Avery R. Campbell

1

|Ashley L. Landers

2

|Jeffrey B. Jackson

3

1

Human Development and Family Science,

University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia,

United States

2

Human Development and Family Science

Program, Department of Human Sciences,

The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio,

United States

3

Human Development and Family Science,

Virginia Tech, Falls Church, Virginia, United

States

Correspondence

Avery Campbell, Hoke Smith Annex 300

Carlton Street Room 223 Athens, GA 30602.

Email: averyca@uga.edu;averyca@vt.edu

Abstract

Objective: Grounded in secondary traumatic stress theory,

this study explored the impact of work-related traumatic

stress on law enforcement couples.

Background: Studies exploring the impact of traumatic

stress on law enforcement couples are limited. Such studies

suggest that when traumatic stress impacts law enforce-

ment professionals, their spouses often experience second-

ary traumatic stress and serve in a supportive role after

trauma exposure.

Method: Semistructured dyadic interviews were conducted

with law enforcement couples (N=seven couples, 14 par-

ticipants) using transcendental phenomenology.

Results: Three themes emerged within the data that cap-

tured the essence of law enforcement couples’experiences of

traumatic stress: (a) the stressful nature of the law enforce-

ment profession, (b) the impact of work-related traumatic

stress on the couple relationship, and (c) protective factors

and resilient coping characteristics.

Conclusion: The impact of work-related traumatic stress

manifested in couple’s communication, role responsibilities

and parenting, and commitment to the relationship and

the profession. The impact of work-related traumatic

events differed for the law enforcement professional and

their spouse based on the type of traumatic event. Overall,

work-related traumatic stress led couples to engage in a

meaning-making process and activation of resilient couple

coping characteristics.

Implications: Given the significant impact that work-

related traumatic stress has on the law enforcement couple

dyad, couple and family therapy services are needed for

law enforcement professionals and their spouses. Couple

and family therapists, family researchers, and other profes-

sionals working to promote healthy couple and family

relationships should inquire about how couples adapt to

Received: 19 January 2021Revised: 21 September 2021Accepted: 31 October 2021

DOI: 10.1111/fare.12661

© 2022 National Council on Family Relations.

Family Relations. 2022;71:1593–1618. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/fare 1593

traumatic stress and reinforce use of resilient coping

characteristics.

KEYWORDS

secondary, traumatic stress law enforcement couples, traumatic stress

Approximately 662,390 individuals are currently employed as law enforcement professionals

(LEPs) in the United States (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2017). The law enforcement (LE) pro-

fession continues to attract approximately 45,000 new trainees each year, with more than

600 local and state LE academies nationwide (Reaves, 2016). LEPs are tasked with maintaining

order and protection of daily life through the enforcement of laws and ordinances. Their job

entails preventing, detecting, and investigating crimes, along with apprehending and arresting

suspects (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2018). In their efforts “to serve and protect,”LEPs are fre-

quently exposed to violent, life-threatening experiences (Gershon et al., 2009). LEPs commonly

display symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after their exposure to work-related

traumatic events (Gershon et al., 2009). The trigger for posttraumatic stress is exposure to

actual or threatened death or serious injury (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disor-

der, 5th ed.; American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013). Such exposure can arise when an

LEP witnesses or directly experiences a traumatic event or is repeatedly exposed to aversive

details of a traumatic event (APA, 2013). After trauma exposure, the LEP may experience

intrusive thoughts, avoidance of stimuli and reminders, changes in mood and cognition, and

arousal and reactivity (APA, 2013).

The lingering effects of traumatic stress often do not go away at the end of an LEP’s shift.

Symptoms of work-related trauma are brought into their home lives and intimate relationships.

Exposure to traumatic events impacts not only on the individual LEP (as evidenced by symptoms

of posttraumatic stress) but also their family relationships, particularly the couple’s relationship

(Alexander & Walker, 1996; Beehr & Johnson, 1995; Friese, 2020; Karaffa et al., 2015;Kirschman,

1997; Landers et al., 2020; Maynard et al., 1980; Meffert et al., 2014; Roberts & Levenson, 2001).

Multiple areas within the couple relationship can be influenced when one or both members of the

couple have endured a traumatic experience, including alterations in relationship roles, issues with

boundaries, intimacy problems, and changes in communication (Henry et al., 2011). Research on

similar high-stress professions (e.g., paramedics and firefighters) suggests that spouses experience dis-

tress after a traumatic event, regardless of whether the professional shares details of the event

(Regehr, 2005). Spouses of first responders are aware of their partner’s response to trauma and

attempt to manage the impact and avoid conflict (Regehr et al., 2005). Similar to LE spouses,

spouses of other first responders report that first responders are not always emotionally present,

despite being physically present (Porter & Hendrickson, 2016).

Research on LE couples has found that when an LEP carries stress home, it directly affects

their interactions with their spouse (Roberts & Levenson, 2001). LE spouses absorb much of

the LEP’s work-related stress and also experience symptoms of secondary traumatic stress

(Landers et al., 2020; Meffert et al., 2014; Roberts & Levenson, 2001). LE spouses take on addi-

tional responsibilities in the aftermath of trauma exposure in an effort to maintain family well-

being, often attempting to appear strong and honor the LE culture (e.g., we take careof our

own). This mentality leaves less space for LE couples to openly share after trauma exposure

(Johnson et al., 2005) and the pile-up of traumatic stress can lead to struggles with infidelity,

codependency, alcoholism, and divorce (Kirschman, 1997).

Although couple relationships can experience detrimental impacts from traumatic stress,

these relationships are also seen as important sources of support, which act to mediate or buffer

against traumatic stress responses in other similar high-stress, first responder professions

(Morman et al., 2020; Regehr, 2005; Regehr et al., 2001,2005). The provision of social support

1594 FAMILY RELATIONS