(PS8-8) Couples’ Adjustment to Parenthood in the Context of Childhood Maltreatment

Abstract Text: Becoming a parent is one of the most significant life transitions most individuals experience, as it is a period of heightened stress, identity change, and lifestyle adjustment. Moreover, couple relationship quality can be disrupted during this transition.  Having a history of childhood maltreatment may exacerbate the stress during this period, as childhood maltreatment can lead to a range of difficult sequalae, including greater risk of emotional dysregulation, psychopathology, and relationship conflict. Understanding if and how childhood maltreatment history impact couples’ adjustment to parenthood is critical to be able to support these growing families during this sensitive period.
399 heterosexual couples who were pregnant with their first child participated in assessment batteries during pregnancy (Wave 1), 10-12 months postpartum (Wave 2), and 2 years postpartum (Wave 3). Measures were completed by both partners individually at each timepoint. Both participants provided reports of childhood maltreatment at Wave 1, coparenting quality at Waves 2 and 3, and relationship quality at all 3 waves. 81% of participants identified as non-Hispanic white, 7% Hispanic, 6% Black, 4% Asian, and 2% multiracial. The average age at Wave 1 was 29.1 years (SD = 4.4) for expectant mothers and 31.1 years (SD = 5.4) for expectant fathers. The median household income as $87,500.  
Structural equation modeling was used to assess actor and partner effects of childhood maltreatment. Specifically, we used two separate cross-lagged models to test whether childhood maltreatment in either partner was associated with their own (actor) or their partner’s (partner) relationship quality (in one model) or coparenting quality ratings (in a second model) at any timepoint.
Both models had good fit (RMSEAs ≤ .08, CFIs ≥ .98). Results indicated partner effects of fathers’ maltreatment on mothers’ relationship quality at waves 2 and 3, where greater maltreatment history for fathers was associated with worse relationship quality in mothers (Wave 2: b = -.12, p = .042; Wave 3: b = -.16, p = .002). There were both significant actor and partner effects of both fathers’ maltreatment history (b = -.06, p < .001) and mothers’ maltreatment history (b = -.13, p = .049) on lower coparenting quality as rated by mothers at wave 2.

These results indicate that mothers may experience relationship and coparenting quality as less satisfying when either themselves or their partners have a history of childhood maltreatment. In contrast, no evidence of such impacts was detected for fathers’ reports of couple functioning. Further studies should explore the mechanisms by which parent maltreatment history affects mothers’ report of couple functioning across the transition to parenthood.