The effect of peer support groups on family adaptation from the perspective of wives of war veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of peer group support on family adaptation of wives of war veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). DESIGN AND SAMPLE: In this randomized controlled trial, 80 wives of war veterans with PTSD were incorporated, and selected participants were randomly assigned into intervention and control groups (n = 40 per group). The intervention group was divided into four subgroups, with each participating in eight weekly based 1.5-hr peer support group sessions and the control group received no intervention. MEASURES: Demographics form and Family Adaptation Scale (FAS) developed by Antonovsky and Sourani (1988) were applied.
RESULTS: The total mean scores of family adaptation increased significantly more in the intervention group than in the control group (p = .033). Furthermore, the time × group interaction effects were significant for internal family fit (p = .013) and a combination of both family fit and family community fit (p = .020) dimensions. Nonetheless family fit dimensions mean scores had no significant increase in the intervention group than the control group over time (p = .948).
CONCLUSIONS: Peer support group can be a useful tool for health care professionals to enhance family adaptation in spouses of war veterans with PTSD.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes