Overview: This thesis looks at the role of social relationships in the lives of people who have experienced a traumatic event. Lack of social support has consistently been found to be associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the literature review examines the nature of the relationship by focusing on studies that have used longitudinal designs. The empirical paper explores social support provided by a partner for a specific trauma, namely traumatic childbirth; the qualitative study investigates couples' experiences of the support process within their relationships. Finally, the critical appraisal reflects on the research process and is intended to be a useful resource for other researchers investigating partner support and / or PTSD following childbirth.