Aims: PTSD in the veterans can affect the quality of life and happiness in their family members including their spouses. Nevertheless, some factors can reduce mental problems. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between the PTSD intensity and the perceived social support and mental happiness and quality of life in the spouses of the veterans with PTSD.
Instrument & Methods: In the descriptive-correlational study, 302 spouses of the veterans with PTSD living in Mashhad were studied in 2014. The subjects were selected via available sampling method. Data was collected using post-traumatic stress disorder checklist, quality of life questionnaire, Oxford happiness inventory, and perceived social support scale. Data was analyzed by SPSS 21 software using Pearson correlation coefficient, Spearman correlation, Eta-squared correlation, and stepwise regression analysis.
Findings: There were direct and reverse correlations between metal happiness and quality of life and the perceived social support and the PTSD intensity, respectively (p<0.001). Totally, 64% of the variance of quality of life were explained by the perceived social support, the PTSD intensity, and the economic status. In addition, 75% of the variance of the spouse’s mental happiness were explained by the perceived social support, the PTSD intensity, and the educational status.
Conclusion: Any enhancement in the perceived social support and reduction in the PTSD intensity in veterans leads to the enhancement of the quality of life in veterans’ spouses.