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Partner Support Adequacy in the Association Between Relationship Distress and Trauma Disclosure Avoidance
Eileen P Barden1,2,3, Melissa V Gates4, Jessica Hill4
1Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine.
Couple & Family Psychology
|November 21, 2025
Summary
Partner support is crucial for individuals with probable PTSD. The study found that both too little and too much partner support can increase trauma disclosure avoidance when relationship distress is high.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Trauma Studies
Background:
- Relationship distress negatively impacts romantic partnerships.
- Trauma disclosure within relationships can alleviate posttraumatic stress symptoms.
- Partner support is vital for creating a safe disclosure environment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine how partner support influences the link between relationship distress and avoiding trauma disclosure.
- To investigate these effects separately for individuals with and without probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Main Methods:
- 254 partnered individuals with trauma histories completed questionnaires.
- Data collected between March 2021 and December 2021.
- Stratified moderation analyses were performed based on PTSD status.
Main Results:
- No significant moderation effects were found for individuals without probable PTSD.
- For those with probable PTSD, partner support significantly moderated the relationship between distress and disclosure avoidance.
- Underprovision of support increased avoidance at low distress; overprovision increased avoidance at high distress.
Conclusions:
- Partner support plays a critical role in trauma disclosure for individuals with probable PTSD.
- Reducing relationship distress and fostering supportive relationships are key clinical implications.
- Optimizing partner support is essential for facilitating trauma disclosure in at-risk individuals.
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