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Childhood Trauma and Marital Discord: Indirect Pathways Through Problematic Partner Behaviors.

Pia E Sellery1, Mark A Whisman1

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Childhood trauma is linked to relationship problems, including nonviolent negative behavior and intimate partner violence (IPV). These early experiences significantly predict marital discord, even beyond IPV.

Keywords:
Childhood traumaIntimate partner violenceMarital discordMarital satisfactionPartner behavior

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Childhood trauma is a significant public health issue with long-term consequences.
  • Adverse childhood experiences are known risk factors for various mental and physical health problems.
  • The impact of childhood trauma on adult relationship quality, particularly nonviolent negative behaviors, is understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine associations between eight types of childhood traumatic experiences and three relationship outcomes: marital discord, nonviolent negative behavior, and intimate partner violence (IPV).
  • To investigate the indirect effects of childhood trauma on marital discord through problematic partner behaviors.
  • To identify specific childhood traumas that predict relationship difficulties.

Main Methods:

  • Secondary analysis of data from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R).
  • Inclusion of 1,370 married participants who completed self-report measures.
  • Statistical analysis using simple and parallel multiple mediator models to assess direct and indirect effects.

Main Results:

  • Rape, sexual molestation, non-parental physical abuse, and total assaultive traumas were associated with marital discord, nonviolent negative behavior, and IPV.
  • Childhood traumas indirectly predicted marital discord through both nonviolent negative behavior and IPV.
  • Nonviolent negative behavior emerged as a significant mediator, explaining the link between childhood trauma and marital discord, independent of IPV.

Conclusions:

  • Childhood trauma is strongly associated with problematic partner behaviors and marital discord.
  • Nonviolent negative behavior is a crucial, yet often overlooked, outcome linking childhood adversity to relationship dissatisfaction.
  • Interventions addressing childhood trauma may improve adult relationship functioning and reduce marital discord.