Childhood Psychological Maltreatment and Quality of Marriage: The Mediating Role of Psychological Distress

• NCJ Number: 221690
• Journal: Journal of Emotional Abuse Volume: 7 Issue: 2 Dated: 2007 Pages: 117-142
• Author(s): Andrea R. Perry; David DiLillo; James Peugh
• Date Published: 2007
• Length: 26 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Special issue on Childhood Emotional Abuse: Mediating and Moderating Processes Affecting Long-Term Impact. For related articles see NCJ-221686-689.

Annotation

This study examined the role of adult psychological distress in mediating associations between childhood psychological maltreatment and marital satisfaction.

Abstract

Consistent with past research, newlywed couples in this study tended to endorse high rates of marital satisfaction on the Quality of Marriage Index. At the same time, a significant minority of newlywed spouses reported experiencing notable psychological distress, as seen by elevated scores on the Brief Symptom Inventory. In going beyond the examination of individual linkages to explore psychological distress as a potential mechanism by which childhood emotional abuse and emotional neglect may impact adult marital satisfaction, associations between psychological maltreatment and marital quality in the overall sample were greatly reduced after taking into account various mental health symptoms. These findings replicate and extend previous knowledge about the long-term interpersonal consequence of psychological maltreatment. Despite limitations, the results of the study have the potential to inform clinical interventions for adult survivors of child maltreatment. Tables, figure, references