Resource Loss, Gain, and Traumatic Stress in Couples During COVID-19

Objective: This study was designed to understand how resource losses and gains during the early months of COVID-19 pandemic-related shutdowns in the United States longitudinally predicted variation in posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in couples by examining actor and partner effects. Method: A dyadic sample was recruited through the panelist company "Forthright" to complete an online survey asking about experiences with COVID-19 and PTSS. The sample included 535 heterosexual couples from several U.S. states who responded to the survey in April, July, and October of 2020. Results.: Actor-partner interdependence modeling (Kenny et al., 2006) was used to explore longitudinal associations within and between partners. Results showed that higher PTSS at Wave 1 significantly, positively predicted both loss and gain at Wave 2 within and between partners. Loss at Wave 2 was a significant predictor of PISS at Wave 3 within partners. Furthermore, indirect actor and partner effects from Wave 1 to Wave 3 PTSS are discussed. Conclusions: Greater loss, within and between partners, was a predictor of greater posttraumatic stress over time in this study. Further. PTSS were connected over time across partners. While gains have an important role in understanding the effects of the pandemic, loss may be pivotal for clinical focus in addressing posttraumatic stress in dyadic treatment.