\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Although many research suggests that law enforcement professionals (LEP) are directly affected by trauma, few have focused their attention on the secondary trauma of their loved ones or spouses. A study was conducted, where an in-depth qualitative interview on eight spouse of law enforcement. In a summary, the results had shown that trauma creates a domino effect onto the spouse, however, the upside to this is that it appears that such couples show a strong bond and how they cope with the trauma.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>As stated, police officers encounter crime, violence, and life-threatening events on a daily basis. Because of the dramatic exposure such exposure can impact an LE spouse or family. \u201cThe investigations that have focused on LE spouses suggest that police work has a detrimental impact on LE spouses and that those in close contact with the traumatized person also experience symptoms of traumatization.\u201d (Landers et. Al., 2020). \u201cFamily support is critical for reducing the negative impact\u201d of stressful work in the criminal justice profession. (Landers et. Al., 2020). Moreover, it is noted that family members play a role to support their partner that is in the LE career. Such role may include, but not limited to, additional responsibilities, creating coping mechanisms, social support, and developing a great way to communicate. Interesting, it is encouraged for spouses and family members to be quite involved because the high prevalence of trauma and the idea that the spouse can help assist clinicians to better understand how trauma affects the couple relationship and how to reduce its negative impact. (Landers et. Al., 2020). However, secondary trauma is described as a natural consequence of behaviors and emotions resulting \u201cfrom knowing about a traumatizing event experienced by a significant other-the stress resulting from helping or want to help a traumatized or suffering person.\u201d (Landers et. Al., 2020). However, when a spouse wants to help their significant, they may to subject themselves to the secondary exposure to trauma. The reason for this is because family members influence the quality of family relationships. Spouses endure the challenges that\u2019s comes with a significant other that works in a highly stressful profession. Behind closed doors, spouses are the ones that see their professional spouse through it all, mental breaks downs, anxiety, distancing and much more.<\/p>\n In a study, interviews of LAE spouses all had to think of an occasion when they had noticed their partner is going through a traumatic event and how it directly affected them. At the end of the study, it was shown that partners are exposed through many different types of traumas i.e. death, injury etc. However, it was also noticed that such trauma may cause a ripple effect as in the LE may begin to have mood swings, changes in behavior and that may affect the spouse. For example, one spouse stated that they fear every time their spouse goes to work and other states that if their LE doesn\u2019t scan the room, then it feels as if she does because she adapted a sense of insecurity. But because of such issues and the domino effect of trauma, spouses have developed a sense to cope.<\/p>\n Coping mechanisms has allowed for spouses to develop better coping mechanism and provide mutual support by understanding each other\u2019s position. For example, \u201cif something bad happens, we get really cohesive.\u201d (Landers et. Al., 2020). Open communication about the traumatic event exposure and the pressure of the trauma appears to be a very important coping mechanisms for a couple\u2019s relationship. By tackling on LE family or spousal health it illuminates the importance of the supportive role that they play.<\/p>\n