The Contribution of Self-Disclosure as a Personal and Interpersonal Characteristic Within the Couple Relationship to Recovery From Posttraumatic Stress

Objective: Much research has been conducted on the clinical course of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), from the perspective of viewing it as a chronic disorder. In the present study, however, we propose viewing PTSD via the recovery paradigm, based on the sociointerpersonal model for understanding posttrauma, which offers a holistic and multidimensional definition of recovery and prognosis (Maercker & Horn, 2013). Specifically, the contribution to recovery of both self-disclosure as a personality trait and self-disclosure of traumatic experiences within the couple relationship were examined. Posttraumatic distress levels and perception of the response following self-disclosure in the couple relationship were examined as mediating variables. Method: The study population included 180 participants between the ages of 20–71 who had been exposed to at least one traumatic event in their lives. Results: The study findings revealed that people with a high propensity for self-disclosure and more self-disclosure in the couple relationship had higher levels of personal recovery. The level of posttraumatic distress mediated the relation between self-disclosure in the couple relationship and the perception of recovery. Only the perception of a positive response following exposure of trauma in the couple relationship was a mediator in the association between self-disclosure of traumatic experiences in the couple relationship and recovery. Conclusions: The study indicates the importance of communication regarding the traumatic event in general, and with reference to the perception of the response to the exposure itself. In addition, the study contributes to broadening the recovery paradigm regarding PTSD.