The Moderating Effect of Coping Behaviors on Posttraumatic Stress and First Responder Romantic Relationships

First responders have an increased risk of vocational trauma exposure, with a potentially adverse effect on the quality of their romantic relationships. The present study evaluates stress and strain models with regard to the link between posttraumatic stress (PTS) and perceived romantic relationship quality in a sample of first responders (N = 93). Participants were recruited from two urban fire departments in the Pacific Northwest, and data were collected via an online survey. In addition to evaluating the direct relationship between PTS and romantic relationship quality, the study also evaluated four coping variables as moderators in order to better understand conditions under which PTS effects relationship quality. Results indicated that more PTS symptoms were associated with lower romantic relationship quality (r = -.39, p < .01), with at least partial support for the buffering effect of all four coping variables. There was a significant interaction effect with regard to adaptive emotion-focused coping (AEFC; b = .07, p < .01, 95% CI [0.00-0.05]). The strength and significance of the association between PTS and romantic relationship quality also varied depending on the level of the three other coping variables: Problem-focused, maladaptive emotion-focused, and emotional support. These findings highlight the clinical importance of working with first responders and their partners to develop effective coping strategies to better protect the romantic relationship.