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Prisoner of war experience: effects on wives
O F Dent1, C Tennant, M J Fairley
1Department of Sociology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
|May 7, 1998
Summary
World War II prisoners of war (POWs) experienced more depression and somatic symptoms than non-POWs. However, their wives did not show similar differences, suggesting limited long-term marital impact.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Military History
- Sociology
Background:
- World War II prisoners of war (POWs) faced unique stressors during captivity.
- Long-term psychological and familial effects of POW experiences require further investigation.
- Understanding the impact on veterans and their families is crucial for postwar support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare psychological and family life characteristics of Australian WWII POWs and their wives against a non-POW control group.
- To assess the long-term effects of imprisonment on veterans and their marital relationships.
- To identify potential intergenerational impacts or spousal correlations stemming from POW experiences.
Main Methods:
- A random sample of 145 WWII veterans (POWs and non-POWs) and their wives participated.
- Participants completed self-administered mood and family life scales.
- Data included somatic symptoms, postwar war impact, and social background information.
Main Results:
- POWs reported higher depression, more somatic symptoms, and greater postwar war impact compared to non-POWs.
- No significant differences were found between wives of POWs and wives of non-POWs on measured variables.
- A correlation between husband's and wife's mood (depression, anxiety) was observed only in POW couples.
Conclusions:
- While POWs experienced significant long-term psychological distress, their wives did not exhibit similar effects.
- The POW experience showed minimal evidence of long-term impact on the overall marital relationship.
- Spousal mood correlation in POW couples suggests a potential, though limited, shared psychological burden.
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