Intergenerational Transmission: Observed Negative Communication Mediates Dyadic Associations Between Childhood Maltreatment and Marital Quality

Childhood maltreatment (CM), a complex trauma, has long been recognized as a detrimental predictor of marital quality in adulthood. Although research has almost exclusively focused on the associations of CM with a range of relationship outcomes from an individual perspective, the dyadic effects of CM on couple interactions and marital quality remain understudied. Relying on the Couple Adaptation to Traumatic Stress model, the present study examined whether CM of each partner is associated with their own and their partner's relationship quality through observed negative couple interaction. The study included 115 mixed-gender Israeli married couples, recruited using a convenience sampling method. During a laboratory session, couples completed self-report questionnaires assessing CM and relationship quality and engaged in a 10-min couple conflict discussion. Actor-partner Interdependence Models revealed an indirect effect from CM of women on the marital quality of women and men. Specifically, women's CM was associated with more expressions of negative communication by women, which in turn was associated with lower marital quality reported by men and women. The study points to systemic intergenerational effects of CM in women on adult relationships through negative couple communication, underscoring the need to assess CM history in couple therapy and to focus on improving communication patterns to prevent the intergenerational transmission of relational dysfunction.