CathNews New Zealand

Couples who helped each other through the stress of Canterbury’s earthquakes were brought closer together by the traumatic events, a new study says.

Research into how couples were affected by the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes found that while some couples experienced increased marital distress, others would have felt their relationship grew stronger.

University of Canterbury PhD student and Fulbright scholar Emma Marshall said many researchers had considered the psychological impact of traumatic events on individuals but little was known about how couples were affected.

“We do not live in isolation. Not only do individuals need to manage their own distress or reactions following an event such as the earthquakes, they are mindful of their partner’s reaction and how to help them . . . so, overall, when you look at the individual only, you do not get the entire picture of the impact of the traumatic event.” Continue reading

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