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Abstract
It has been previously observed that work-related stress and traumatic stress can negatively affect first responder (FR) couples’ individual and relational wellbeing. Current literature suggests that there are adverse effects of the FR profession on critical areas of the FR couples’ functioning, including aspects of their parenting behaviors and coparenting relationship. Despite the growing body of research highlighting the impact of work-related stress and traumatic stress on FR family systems, a significant gap in understanding FR couples and families still exists. This study aimed to illuminate the impact of stress and traumatic stress on FR couples, their coparenting relationships, and their parenting to provide implications for mental health professionals, community mental health agencies, and policies related to FR wellbeing. No past research initiatives have interviewed both members of a FR couple about the intersecting experiences between these relationship and parenting domains. Informed by ecological systems theory and the couple adaptation to traumatic stress model, this study employed a hermeneutic phenomenological research design to interview 15 first responder couples. The findings corroborate existing literature, highlighting significant parenting difficulties stemming from stress and traumatic stress in FR couples. The results of this study emphasize the necessity for both individual and familial-level interventions to enhance positive couple relationship and parenting practices in FR couples.