Written by Jarret Bain, B.S.

How might partners, friends, and professionals, better support someone recovering from trauma?

Canadian researchers investigated how social support behaviors affected the psychological well-being of individuals who have experienced trauma. Researchers videotaped the overt support and counter-supportive behaviors of 48 women and 20 men with PTSD and their partners (e.g., their spouse, a family member, or a close friend) in conversations about their traumatic experiences. They analyzed the differences between men's and women’s support...