The Attachment Characteristics of Combat Veterans with PTSD

interpersonal hostility, and somatic complaints (Solomon et al., 1992). There is evidence that the negative interpersonal effects of combat-related PTSD are not confined to the veterans themselves but also seep into the functioning of their intimate relationships and the families they create. Jordan et al. (1992) found that the families of male combat veterans with PTSD were at increased risk for family-based violence and child behavior problems. Studies conducted on the children of veterans with PTSD have found comparatively higher rates of depression and anxiety as well as higher levels of interpersonal aggression (Glenn et al., 2002; Harkness, 1993). The impairment observed in the intimate relationships and family functioning of combat veterans with PTSD suggests that trauma symptoms have negative effects on the veteran's close social supports. However, the literature suggests a complex relationship between the veteran's social support both before and after combat exposure and their subsequent risk for developing PTSD. A meta-analysis by Brewin, Andrews, and Valentine (2000) supported previous findings that stressors such as childhood physical abuse are associated with an increased risk for PTSD. Yet they also found that the quality of a person's social support after experiencing