Cumulative childhood trauma (CCT), experiences of different types of interpersonal trauma before 18 years old, has negative consequences for a person’s physical, psychological and relational wellbeing. These include physical, psychological and sexual abuse, emotional or physical neglect, witnessing violence or bullying in a relationship of trust, caregiving or authority. While individual consequences are to be expected, research has also demonstrated negative associations between these experiences and adult relationship satisfaction, which decreases as the number of traumas increases. Additionally, it is recognised that those who have suffered CCT find expected life transitions, like the birth of a child or children leaving home, more challenging. Unresolved past trauma may be reactivated and coping mechanisms challenged.
What About the Parenting Couple?
While it is clearly recognised that parenting is a dyadic process, research has focussed on mothers, neglecting fathers and the co-parenting experience and a gap in understanding the relationship between CCT and relationship satisfaction. The birth of a child is a time of disruption in the couple relationship however it also offers parents ‘a unique opportunity to overcome the challenges posed by their traumatic experiences and to establish the foundations of a healthy and satisfying couple relationship’. This points to a need for research to better understand the relational dynamics that link CCT to relationship satisfaction with a view to effectively intervening at this stage of the family life cycle.
Exploring Parental Alliance as a Mediating Factor
Baumann et al (2026) hypothesised that parental alliance may have an indirect effect on the association between CCT and relationship satisfaction following the birth of a child. They were also interested to understand the unique experiences of mothers and fathers.
What Did They Find?
It was clearly demonstrated that a history of CCT was associated with both one’s own and one’s partner’s relationship satisfaction through both adults’ parental alliance. The cumulative nature of interpersonal traumas was demonstrated with the more CCT the lower relationship satisfaction for both men and women. A history of CCT does not only impact the survivor’s relationship satisfaction but also their partner’s, confirming a ‘reciprocal correlation and a cycle of unfavourable interactions within couples where at least one of the partners is a CCT survivor.’ The connection between CCT and parental alliance which impacted relationship satisfaction was also confirmed.
What are the Implications for Practitioners
The birth of a child is a time of instability in the couple relationship and an opportunity to create a positive and rewarding connection or fall victim to negative patterns of interaction which create cycles of dissatisfaction and dysfunction. Those with a history of CCT may be particularly challenged at this time as they face fear of repeating mistakes made by their caregivers or a general sense of inadequacy as parents. Directly exploring each person’s history of CCT, its relevance in their role as parents and how each may trigger unhelpful responses in their partner is recommended. This links directly to the question of parental alliance which is supported by good communication, cooperation, and mutual support as co‐parents. Attending to these elements in the couple relationship may support new parents to ensure history does not repeat itself.
Baumann, M., Villeneuve, E., Bélanger, C., Paradis, A., Herba, C., Godbout, N. Dyadic Analysis of Cumulative Childhood Trauma and Relationship Satisfaction: The Role of Parental Alliance
Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 2025; 51: e70002 https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.70002
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