How Does This Disorder Affect the Spouse Essay Example

style="text-align: justify">Secondary traumatized or compassion fatigue refers to the stress of caring for a spouse with PTSD (Pearrow, & Cosgrove, 2009). The spouses experience high levels of stress when dealing with their children and the return of their spouse from a war zone. Finding solutions to alleviate stress in families of veterans with PTSD is important. It is evident that caring for a returning soldier with PTSD significantly affects both the partner and their children (Pearrow, & Cogrove, 2009, p. 78).

The study conducted by Dekel, Goldblatt, Keider, Soloman, and Polliack (2005) examined the coping mechanisms of wives whose partners suffer from PTSD. The article suggested that spouses experienced the impact of PTSD through feelings of isolation, loneliness, and assuming the role of a caregiver instead of a partner (Dekel et al. 2005). These emotions are a result of compassion fatigue syndrome transference. PTSD not only affects returning veterans but also significantly impacts their families.

According to N.A. (2010), the spouse of a returning veteran with PTSD may experience various conflicting emotions, including sympathy, a sense that the marriage has changed, avoidance, guilt, and anger. Coping with these emotions can be challenging and lead to overwhelming stress. It is crucial for further research to investigate the specific impact of PTSD on spouses and families. Additionally, living with someone who has PTSD can induce fear in both the spouse and children as they constantly anticipate how symptoms will manifest. Consequently, this situation causes significant levels of stress for the spouse and the rest of the family. This raises the following research question/hypothesis:

The research proposal aims to examine whether spouses who engage with

war veterans diagnosed with PTSD have higher stress levels compared to spouses who interact with war veterans without PTSD.

The hypothesis (H1) states that spouses of returning war veterans diagnosed with PTSD will have higher levels of stress compared to spouses of returning war veterans without PTSD. Additionally, it suggests that spouses interacting with a returning war veteran diagnosed with PTSD will experience lower levels of stress compared to spouses of returning war veterans without PTSD (H2). The null hypothesis (Ho) proposes that there will be no difference in stress levels between spouses who interact with a returning war veteran diagnosed with PTSD and those who do not.

This research proposal aims to examine the stress levels in spouses of veterans with PTSD compared to those without PTSD. The stress level experienced by these individuals is the dependent variable in this study, which refers to the pressure and strain on their mental health during the process of readjusting to normal life. The independent variables in this proposal include the presence or absence of PTSD in returning soldiers and whether the spouses have children. To measure these independent variables, observational methods will be used, such as observing participants' nonverbal behaviors like facial expressions and body language. This methodology will help determine whether higher levels of stress are encountered by the spouses or by the returning soldiers themselves.

The research study aims to include two groups of participants: military soldiers who have recently returned from deployment and are experiencing PTSD, and military soldiers without PTSD, as well as their partners. The selection process will involve random selection at a Veterans treatment center and on all military

bases. Recruiting soldiers with PTSD will be relatively simple since they would be returning from combat zones. Finding soldiers without PTSD will require randomly selecting individuals from military bases throughout the country. The total sample size will consist of 600 military soldiers with or without PTSD and their partners. To ensure equal representation, "quota sampling" will be used to draw an equal number of participants from the military population (Frankfort-Nachmias & Nachmias, 2008). Sampling;

The sampling method for this study will be nonprobability convenience sampling. This means that the researcher will select returning soldiers with PTSD, returning soldiers without PTSD, and their respective partners. Nonprobability convenience sampling allows the researcher to select "whatever sample is conveniently available" (Frankfort-Nachmias ; Nachmias, 2008). This sampling method is suitable for this proposal because the participants can be conveniently obtained from all the base and Veterans treatment centers.

This proposal considers an alternative design - quota sampling. Quota samples involve specific variables like gender, age, and place of residence (Frankfort-Nachmias & Nachmias, 2008). The aim is to assess stress levels in soldiers and their partners. By using quota samples, the researcher can examine potential outcomes and determine the prevalence of stress levels among returning soldiers with or without PTSD.

The study will utilize a quasi-experimental design called the panels and time series design, which is ideal for comparing groups. This design works well for populations with equal proportions of males and females. The panels and time series design enables researchers to analyze data over time, observing changes in the stress level (the dependent variable) and evaluating the before and after conditions of the study. Employing a

quasi-experimental design is essential for measuring the dependent variable (N.A. 2011). Materials:

The research proposal aims to measure stress levels in spouses and returning soldiers using a questionnaire survey. The survey will consist of 10-15 questions that assess the impact on both individuals, with an emphasis on subjective experiences such as beliefs, attitudes, feelings, and opinions (Frankfort-Nachmias & Nachmias, 2008, p.231). This self-designed survey follows the quota experimental design approach. To collect data, researchers will gather information about participants' backgrounds, everyday experiences, and attitudes towards living with someone who has PTSD. The procedure for conducting the survey is outlined below:

The objective of this research study is to extend the current research on the effects on both spouses and returning soldiers. A total of 600 participants were selected for this experiment and were provided with a questionnaire to complete. The data obtained will be analyzed.

The SPSS software for statistics was used as the coding procedure. One approach to analyze the results is by employing ANOVA, which allows pre-testing and post-testing of the participants for increased study accuracy. By utilizing covariate, the independent variable (IV) can be manipulated to achieve better results and determine the mean and standard deviation of the variables in this research proposal. The univariate statistics include mean, standard deviation, mode, median, and variance. Bivariate statistics encompass scattergram and histogram. An inference drawn from the study may suggest higher stress levels amongst war soldiers with PTSD compared to those returning from war. Discussion.

Quota sampling is an ideal method for this study as it allocates specific numbers to each sample unit in the four groups. The selection of this method

was based on its accuracy and the opportunity to conduct retests if any problems arise. For example, errors can occur if there are unanswered survey questions or if the sample size is too small.

Quasi experimental design has limitations in terms of internal validity, so researchers utilize statistical analysis to overcome this issue. According to Frankfort-Nachmias and Nachmias (2008), "In a nonsampling sample, the population used could have a probability of the sample specified." The threat to internal validity depends on whether the independent variable affects the dependent variable. In my study, if the stress level changes over time, the independent variable may impact the dependent variable. For instance, returning veterans experiencing divorce might experience increased stress for both themselves and their partners.

Although this type of design has disadvantages, such as lacking control and the inability for other explanations to manipulate the independent variable, requiring logical or theoretical inference to determine causation (Frankfort-Nachmias & Nichmias, 2008, p. 133), researchers may struggle with comparing and contrasting variable relationships when surveys are used. However, cross-sectional design allows researchers to compare x and y in order to address the question. H1 indicates a significant difference between men and women who return with PTSD in terms of being at higher risk of developing stress compared to other family members. On the contrary, Ho suggests that there is no difference between men and women veterans returning with PTSD in terms of having less risk of stress than other family members.

Furthermore, the use of time series design presents a limitation in keeping track of participants due to changes in their environments, which affects accuracy. However, utilizing

time series design enables researchers to assess the impact of the dependent variable (DV) on the independent variable (IV), thus determining whether stress levels influence returning soldiers with or without PTSD and their partners. Employing this design enhances the reliability of evidence on stress levels within these controlled groups. Integrating these designs can enhance research accuracy and validity on Materials.

Frankfort-Nachmias and Nachmias (2009, p.133) suggest that a potential issue in this study is the lack of control over alternative explanations, which makes it difficult to manipulate the results. The researchers make conclusions about spouses and soldiers as independent variables. Quasi experimental design is a comparative statistical analysis method but its uneven distribution of variables reduces internal validity. The test and retest method involves using the same measurement instrument on the same group, known as ratio measurement using numbers to assess experiment validity. Data analysis will involve ANOVA to measure variations in variables (N.A., 2011). The study procedure is as follows:

The participants will be divided into groups and given a questionnaire to complete regarding their experiences living with a returning soldier who has PTSD. The questionnaire will contain closed-ended questions that are carefully worded to avoid bias. After completing the questionnaires, the responses will be tallied using letter codes (e.g. counting A's and B's). These numbers will then be entered into the SPSS statistics program to calculate mean, standard deviation, and frequency. Furthermore, ANOVA will be used to determine variable variances in the study.

Possible problems with data collection may involve coding methods and a potentially small sample size. In order to address these concerns, we carefully examined all responses on

the questionnaires, which include the PCI checklist and the questionnaire found in the Appendix of this proposal.

The study's conclusion proposes that spouses who are consistently exposed to trauma or emotional stress may develop trauma stress due to their interactions with a soldier suffering from PTSD. Other studies have examined the effects of PTSD on both spouses and returning soldiers, emphasizing the significant responsibility placed on spouses in providing support and care for the soldier. These studies underscore the importance of stress levels within the family unit. The objective of this research proposal is to ascertain if spouses who engage with war veterans diagnosed with PTSD experience elevated levels of stress compared to those who interact with veterans not diagnosed with PTSD.