Studies exploring the impact of work-related traumatic stress on law enforcement couples are limited. Such studies suggest that when work-related traumatic stress impacts law enforcement professionals, their spouses may experience secondary traumatic stress and serve in a supportive role following trauma exposure. Grounded in secondary traumatic stress theory, this study explored the impact of work-related traumatic stress on law enforcement couples. Semi-structured dyadic interviews were conducted with law enforcement couples (N = 7) using transcendental phenomenology. Three themes emerged within the data that captured the essence of law enforcement couple experiences of work-related traumatic stress: (1) the stressful nature of the law enforcement profession, (2) the impact of work-related traumatic stress on the couple relationship, and (3) resilient couple characteristics. The impact of work-related traumatic stress manifested in couple's communication, role responsibilities and parenting, and commitment to the relationship and the profession. Whereas 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. Given the significant impact that work-related traumatic stress has on the law enforcement couple dyad, couples therapy interventions are needed for law enforcement professionals and their spouses. / Master of Science / Law enforcement professionals often experience symptoms of traumatic stress as a result of repeated exposure to work-related traumatic events. Spouses of law enforcement professionals may also experience secondary traumatic stress and serve in a supportive role following work-related traumatic stress exposure. This study explored the impact of work-related traumatic stress on law enforcement couples. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with law enforcement couples (N = 7) using transcendental phenomenology. Couples experienced work-related stress related to the nature of the law enforcement professional's work outside of the instances of work-related traumatic events. Job demands and expectations of police culture contributed to work-related stress along with the stress of work-related traumatic events. Three themes emerged within the data that captured the essence of law enforcement couple experiences including: (1) the stressful nature of the law enforcement profession, (2) the impact of work-related traumatic stress on the couple relationship, and (3) resilient couple characteristics. The impact of work-related traumatic stress manifested in couple's communication, role responsibilities and parenting, and commitment to the relationship and the profession. While 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. Given the significant impact that work-related traumatic stress has on the law enforcement couple dyad, interventions are needed for law enforcement couples.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/99410 |
| Date | 23 July 2020 |
| Creators | Campbell, Avery Renee |
| Contributors | Adult Learning and Human Resource Development, Landers, Ashley L., Cunanan-Petty, Elnora D., Jackson, Jeffrey B. |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | ETD, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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