Abstract
Forty Bosnian refugee couples living in the United States completed a translated version of the PTSD Symptom Scale—Self Report, the Behavioral Acculturation Scale, the Marital Satisfaction Inventory—Revised, and a demographic questionnaire. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology was the best predictor of marital functioning and was related negatively to acculturation. After controlling for PTSD, acculturation did not predict marital functioning. Wives' marital satisfaction was best predicted by husbands' PTSD, husbands' acculturation, and their own PTSD. Husbands' marital satisfaction was not predicted significantly by any of these variables. These findings suggest several implications for mental health professionals dealing with refugees and other traumatized populations.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adamopoulou, A., Garyfallos, G., Bouras, N.,& Kouloumas, G. (1990). Mental health and primary care in ethnic groups. Greek Cypriots in London: A preliminary investigation. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 36, 244–251.
Agger, I., & Jensen, S. B. (1989). Couples in exile: Political consciousness as an element in the psychosexual dynamics of a Latin American refugee couple. Sexual & Marital Therapy, 4, 101–108.
Baron, R. M., & Kenny, D. A. (1986). The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51, 1173–1182.
Buchwald, D., Klacsanzsky, G., & Manson, S. (1993). Psychiatric disorders among recently arrived Eastern Europeans seen through a U.S. refugee counseling service. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 39, 221–227.
Carlson, E. B., & Rosser-Hogan, R. (1991). Trauma experiences, posttraumatic stress, dissociation, and depression in Cambodian refugees. American Journal of Psychiatry, 148, 1548–1551.
Carroll, E. M., Rueger, D. B., Foy, D. W., & Donahoe, C. P. (1985). Vietnam combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder: Analysis of marital and cohabiting adjustment. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 94, 329–337.
Chambon, A. (1989). Refugee families' experiences: Three family themes—family disruption, violent trauma and acculturation. Journal of Strategic and Systemic Therapies, 8, 3–13.
Foa, E. B., Riggs, D. S., Dancu, C. V., & Rothbaum, B. O. (1993). Reliability and validity of a brief instrument for assessing posttraumatic stress disorder. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 6, 459–473.
Ghaffarian, S. (1987). The acculturation of Iranians in the United States. Journal of Social Psychology, 127, 565–571.
Golding, J. M., & Burnam, M. A. (1990). Immigration, stress, and depressive symptoms in aMexican-American community. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 178, 161–171.
Jordan, B. K., Marmar, C. R., Fairbank, J. A., Schlenger, W. E., Kulka, R. A., Hough, R. L., & Weiss, D. S. (1992). Problems in families of male Vietnam veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 60, 916–926.
Kashy, D. A., & Snyder, D. K. (1995). Measurement and data analytic issues in couples research. Psychological Assessment, 7, 338–348.
Kinzie, J. D., Tran, K. A., Breckenridge, A.,& Bloom, J. D. (1980). An Indochinese refugee psychiatric clinic: Culturally accepted treatment approaches. American Journal of Psychiatry, 137, 1429–1432.
Lin, K. (1986). Psychopathology and social disruption in refugees. In C. L. Williams & J. Westermeyer (Eds.), Refugee mental health in resettlement countries (pp. 61-73). Washington, DC: Hemisphere.
Lipson, J. G. (1991). Afghan refugee health: Some findings and suggestions. Qualitative Health Research, 1, 349–369.
Mertus, J., Tesanovic, J., Metikos, H., & Boric, R. (Eds.). (1997). Suitcase: Refugee voices from Bosnia and Croatia. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.
Mollica, R. F., Wyshak, G., de Marneffe, D., Khuon, F., & Lavelle, J. (1987). Indochinese versions of the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25: A screening instrument for the psychiatric care of refugees. American Journal of Psychiatry, 144, 498–500.
Nann, R. C. (Ed.). (1982). Uprooting and surviving: Adaptation and resettlement of migrant families and children. Boston, MA: Reidel.
Negy, C., & Snyder, D. K. (1997). Ethnicity and acculturation: Assessing Mexican-American couples' relationships using the Marital Satisfaction Inventory—Revised. Psychological Assessment, 9, 414–421.
Negy, C., & Snyder, D. K. (in press). Relationship satisfaction of Mexican-and non-Hispanic White-American interethnic couples: Issues of acculturation and clinical intervention. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy.
O'Brian, L. C. (1992). Marital satisfaction as a function of acculturative disparity in endogenous and exogenous marriages of Iranian immigrants [CD-ROM]. Abstract from: ProQuest File: Dissertation Abstracts Item: 9233737.
Oey, B. M. (1991). Personality characteristics, acculturation, and marital satisfaction of interracially married and endogamous Chinese-Americans [CD-ROM]. Abstract from: ProQuest File: Dissertation Abstract Item: 9115262.
Okazaki, S., & Sue, S. (1995). Methodological issues in assessment research with ethnic minorities. Psychological Assessment, 7, 367–375.
Riggs, D. S., Byrne, C. A., Weathers, F.W., & Litz, B. T. (1998). The quality of the intimate relationships of male Vietnam veterans: Problems associated with posttraumatic stress disorder. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 11, 87–101.
Roberts, W. R., Penk, W. E., Gearing, M. L., Robinowitz, R., Dolan, M. P., & Patterson, E. T. (1982). Interpersonal problems of Vietnam combat veterans with symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 91, 444–450.
Salvendy, J. T. (1983). The mental health of immigrants: A reassessment of concepts. Canada's Mental Health, 31, 9–12.
Sawyer, K. K. (1995). Refugees: Seeking a safe haven. Springfield, NJ: Enslow.
Snyder, D. K. (1997). Manual for the Marital Satisfaction Inventory—Revised. Los Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services.
Snyder, D. K., & Costin, S. (1994). The Marital Satisfaction Inventory. In M. E. Maruish (Ed.), Use of psychological testing for treatment planning and outcome assessment (pp. 322–351). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Snyder, D. K., Lachar, D., Freiman, K. E., & Hoover, D. W. (1991). Toward the actuarial assessment of couples' relationships. In J. P. Vincent (Ed.), Advances in family intervention, assessment, and theory (Vol. 5, pp. 89–122). London: Kingsley.
Solomon, Z., Mikulincer, M., Freid, B., & Wosner, Y. (1987). Family characteristics and posttraumatic stress disorder: A follow-up of Israeli combat stress reaction casualties. Family Process, 26, 383–394.
Stein, B. N. (1986). The experience of being a refugee: Insights from the research literature. In C. L., Williams & J. Westermeyer (Eds.), Refugee mental health in resettlement countries (pp. 5–23). Washington, DC: Hemisphere.
Szapozcznik, J., Scopetta, M. A., & Kurtines, W. (1978). Theory and measurement of acculturation. Interamerican Journal of Psychology, 12, 113–130.
Ullman, R. H. (1996). The world and Yugoslavia's wars. New York, NY: Council of Foreign Relations.
van der Veer, G. (1995). Counseling and therapy with refugees. Chichester, NY: John Wiley & Sons.
Vega, W. A., Kolody, B., & Valle, R. (1988). Marital strain, coping, and depression among Mexican-American women. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 50, 391–403.
Weine, S. M., Becker, D. F., McGlashan, T. H., Laub, D., Lazrove, S., Vojvoda, D.,& Hyman, L. (1995). Psychiatric consequences of “Ethnic Cleansing”: Clinical assessments and trauma testimonies of newly resettled Bosnian refugees. American Journal of Psychiatry, 152, 536–542.
Weine, S. M., Becker, D. F., McGlashan, Vojvoda, D., Hartman, S.,& Robbins, J. P. (1995). Adolescent survivors of “Ethnic Cleansing”: Observations on the first year in America. Journal of American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 34, 1153–1159.
Weine, S., Vojvoda, D., Hartman, S., & Hyman, L. (1997). A family survives genocide. Psychiatry, 60, 24–39.
Westermeyer, J., Neider, J., & Callies, A. (1989). Psychosocial adjustment of Hmong refugees during their first decade in the United States: A longitudinal study. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 177, 132–139.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
About this article
Cite this article
Spasojević, J., Heffer, R.W. & Snyder, D.K. Effects of Posttraumatic Stress and Acculturation on Marital Functioning in Bosnian Refugee Couples. J Trauma Stress 13, 205–217 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007750410122
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007750410122