Partner Support Adequacy in the Association Between Relationship Distress and Trauma Disclosure Avoidance

Relationship distress can impact various dynamics within romantic relationships. Disclosure of trauma commonly occurs in relationships and can mitigate posttraumatic stress symptoms. Social support from one’s romantic partner (i.e., partner support) can facilitate a supportive environment conducive to disclosure. The present study investigated how type and adequacy of partner support influenced the association between relationship distress and trauma disclosure avoidance among 254 partnered individuals with a trauma history. Data were collected from participant questionnaires from March 2021 to December 2021. Stratified moderation analyses were conducted for participants with and without probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Results indicated that among those without probable PTSD, no moderation effects emerged (ps =.470–.910). However, partner support showed significant moderation effects across all support types (ps =.001–.007) for participants with probable PTSD. Specifically, at low levels of relationship distress, underprovision of partner support was associated with the highest levels of trauma disclosure avoidance, whereas at high levels of relationship distress, the pattern inversed such that overprovision of partner support was associated with greater trauma disclosure avoidance. Findings underscore the critical role of partner support in disclosure behaviors of individuals with probable PTSD. Clinical implications include emphasizing the importance of reducing relationship distress and fostering supportive romantic relationships to enhance the environment for potential trauma disclosure.