Parents exposed to childhood interpersonal trauma are at risk of reporting difficulties following the birth of a child. Although parenting alliance is crucial for both parental and infant well-being, it is often overlooked for trauma survivors in the postpartum period. More research is needed, focusing on both co-parents and using a dyadic and longitudinal approach to understand the underlying mechanisms. Self-capacities offer insights into trauma's effects at different life stages and might play a role in survivors' parenting alliance. Using a dyadic and longitudinal design, this study examined the possible mediating role of self-capacities in the association between cumulative childhood interpersonal trauma (CCIT) and parenting alliance. A randomly selected sample of 923 couples who recently had a child, completed questionnaires on CCIT, self-capacities disturbances (i.e., affect dysregulation, identity disturbance and interpersonal conflicts), and parenting alliance at two time-points (T1, T2). Path analyses revealed that, when controlling for parenting alliance at T1, CCIT was associated with lower parenting alliance at T2 for both mothers and fathers, through interpersonal conflicts and affect dysregulation at T1. Precisely, a higher disposition to interpersonal conflicts mediated the link between one parent's CCIT and their own parenting alliance, while higher affect dysregulation mediated the link between one parent's CCIT and their co-parent's parenting alliance. Findings suggest that CCIT survivors may struggle with parenting alliance through affect dysregulation and interpersonal conflicts during early postpartum, highlighting self-capacities as both prevention and intervention targets to foster parenting alliance.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a widespread, problematic phenomenon that warrants more research to inform prevention and intervention initiatives. Childhood cumulative trauma has consistently been associated with IPV, but the mechanisms linking these two variables remain understudied. Dispositional mindfulness appears as a promising explanatory mechanism, as it was negatively associated with childhood cumulative trauma and IPV. Empirical literature also highlights associations between mindfulness and couple satisfaction, which, in turn, is a robustly documented factor in IPV. This study aimed to assess the indirect relationship between childhood cumulative trauma and IPV, examining the potential pathways through mindfulness and couple satisfaction. A sample of 511 men entering treatment from community centers for IPV-related difficulties completed self-report questionnaires measuring exposure to childhood cumulative trauma, dispositional mindfulness, couple satisfaction, and perpetration of four forms of IPV (i.e., physical, psychological, sexual violence, and coercive control). Path analyses showed significant indirect associations from childhood cumulative trauma to the four forms of IPV through mindfulness and couple satisfaction. The tested model explains between 4% and 13% of the variance in the different forms of IPV. Findings suggest that dispositional mindfulness and couple satisfaction might be meaningful factors to explore with men facing IPV-related issues, especially if they report childhood maltreatment experiences. Results pinpoint key factors that can be targeted in prevention and intervention strategies specifically tailored for male IPV perpetrators entering treatment.

BACKGROUND:Controlling behaviors are a prevalent form of dating violence that can emerge as early as adolescence and are often normalized despite their negative consequences for adolescents' well-being. Understanding the relational factors associated with control victimization is essential to inform early prevention efforts. OBJECTIVE:This dyadic study examined whether jealousy moderates the association between interpersonal trust and control victimization, specifically isolation and domination, in adolescent dating relationships. PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE:Participants included 279 mixed-sex adolescent dyads (Mage = 17.50, SD = 1.29) who completed an online questionnaire. METHODS:An Actor-Partner Interdependence Moderation Model (APIMoM) was used to account for dyadic interdependence and to examine actor and partner effects of trust and jealousy on control victimization. RESULTS:Jealousy moderated the partner effect of trust on isolation victimization. Specifically, higher trust was associated with lower partner-reported isolation victimization only at average and high levels of jealousy, for both boys and girls. No moderation effect emerged for domination. However, higher trust in both partners was associated with lower self- and partner-reported domination victimization. In contrast, higher jealousy in both partners was associated with increased self- and partner-reported domination victimization. The model explained up to 57% of the variance in isolation victimization and 33% in domination victimization. CONCLUSIONS:These findings highlight distinct relational dynamics underlying isolation and domination victimization in adolescent dating relationships. Prevention programs should address not only trust-building processes but also maladaptive expressions of jealousy to reduce controlling behaviors among adolescents.

BACKGROUND:The intergenerational transmission of cumulative childhood interpersonal trauma (CCIT) is well established. While the protective role of relational factors, including partner support, is well recognized, few studies examined this question using dyadic designs, representing an important gap in the literature. OBJECTIVE:This study tested whether provided and received partner support (i.e., the support one provides to their partner and the support one receives from their partner) moderated the association between parents' CCIT and their own and their partner's child abuse potential (CAP). PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING:Participants were 607 heterosexual couples (N = 1214 parents) of toddlers recruited from a community-based longitudinal study in Canada. METHODS:Parents completed validated self-report measures of CCIT, partner support, and CAP. Analyses were conducted using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM), accounting for non-independence of dyadic data and controlling for stressful life events. RESULTS:Parents' CCIT was positively associated with their own CAP (β = 0.178, p < .001). Received partner support was negatively associated with CAP (β = -0.288, p < .001) and moderated the CCIT-CAP link both within (β = -0.094, p = .008) and across partners (β = -0.075, p = .026). The association between CCIT and CAP became nonsignificant at high levels of received support. The final model explained 30% of CAP variance and fit the data well. CONCLUSIONS:Supportive couple dynamics mitigate the intergenerational transmission of trauma. Enhancing perceived partner support represents a promising avenue for preventing child maltreatment among trauma-exposed parents.

PURPOSES:Growing up with a sibling who has a developmental disability (DD) is a complex experience that becomes even more challenging in the presence of severe challenging behaviors (SCBs). SCBs include behaviors that may endanger the physical and psychological integrity of both the individual and their close environment. Despite increasing research on parental experiences, the perspectives of brothers and sisters remain largely overlooked. These conditions often expose them to prolonged and repeated interpersonal harm, aligning with the context described in complex trauma theory which outlines symptoms that may arise from such environments across seven domains: affect regulation, interpersonal relationships, self-concept, cognition, behavior control, physical symptoms, and dissociation. This study aims to gain a deeper understanding of the lived experiences of individuals who grew up with a sibling with an DD in the context of SCBs, using complex trauma theory as a framework. METHODS:Eleven participants took part in two semi-structured interviews exploring both their childhood and adult lives. A directed content analysis, based on the domains of complex trauma theory, was conducted on the full interview transcripts. RESULTS:Findings indicate that the context described by participants shares many features with environments characterized by complex trauma. Furthermore, all seven symptom domains outlined by the theory were reflected in their narratives. CONCLUSION:These findings underscore the need to recognize the potentially traumatic nature of growing up in such environments and to approach brothers' and sisters' experiences through a trauma-informed lens. Greater awareness of their reality is essential to developing clinical interventions.

After childbirth, couples often experience a decline in sexual satisfaction, with interpersonal trauma survivors being particularly vulnerable. In fact, increasing evidence links cumulative childhood interpersonal trauma (CCIT) with reduced sexual well-being in adulthood. However, little is known about the influence of CCIT on postpartum sexual satisfaction and the underlying mechanisms, while childbirth is a stressful period that may reactivate traumatic memories and disrupt intimacy. Perceived partner responsiveness could serve as an explanatory mechanism, as it has been associated with sexual satisfaction in CCIT survivors. Using a dyadic approach, this study aimed to examine the role of perceived partner responsiveness in the association between CCIT and postpartum sexual satisfaction in couples who recently welcomed a child. A randomly selected community sample of 473 Canadian parental couples completed online self-reported questionnaires assessing CCIT, perceived partner responsiveness, and sexual satisfaction. Path analyses guided by the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model revealed that CCIT was associated with lower sexual satisfaction through lower perceived partner responsiveness in both mothers and fathers. Moreover, significant dyadic indirect effects confirmed partners' interinfluences on outcomes. Results highlight the importance of targeting both partners' perceived partner responsiveness in interventions aiming to enhance postpartum sexual satisfaction among parents who have experienced CCIT.

Parental depressive symptoms have been primarily documented in mothers during the first postpartum year. Yet, growing evidence shows that fathers also experience depressive symptoms and that these symptoms may persist as parents navigate the challenges of raising toddlers. A history of cumulative childhood trauma is a known risk factor for parental depressive symptoms, but the mechanisms explaining this association in fathers remain understudied. One significant correlate of depressive symptoms in fathers is masculine gender role stress, the distress arising from a perceived inability to meet the expectations associated with a specific gender role. This study focused specifically on masculine gender role stress linked to feelings of subordination to women, which may be especially relevant in parental gender dynamics. Emotion dysregulation has also been examined as a potential explanatory factor linking cumulative childhood trauma and parental depressive symptoms. Using a randomly selected sample of 719 fathers raising a toddler, this study examined the sequential indirect effects of masculine gender role stress and emotion dysregulation in the association between cumulative childhood trauma and parental depressive symptoms. Participants completed self-reported measures online. Results of path analysis revealed that cumulative childhood trauma was sequentially associated with parental depressive symptoms through masculine gender role stress and emotion dysregulation (R2 = 37.2%). These findings underscore the potential relevance of developing trauma-sensitive prevention programs that address emotion dysregulation and masculine gender role stress in early fatherhood. Implications are discussed considering the current sociocultural climate and the resurgence of more rigid forms of masculinity.

Exposure to interparental conflict (IC) in childhood has been documented to be an important risk factor for parents’ wellbeing and the intergenerational transmission of trauma. However, there is no French instrument available for measuring the childhood exposure to IC in parents. This study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of a short form of the Perceptions of Interparental Conflict questionnaire (PIC-SF), which assesses memories of interparental conflict that occurred in the parents’ own childhood. Data were collected between August 2021 and February 2023, and participants had a mean age of 39.2 years old (SD = 5.4). Exploratory and Confirmatory factor analyses were conducted among a representative sample of 610 parents of a toddler in the province of Québec (Canada), which was split into two subsamples (n = 305). Results indicate that the PIC-SF demonstrates strong internal consistency supported by Cronbach’s alpha (α = 0.95) and McDonald’s omega (ω = 0.95). Additionally, a unifactorial structure was supported, accounting for 74% of the variance. Correlation analyses indicated that memories of exposure to IC in childhood were related to childhood interpersonal trauma, increased psychological distress, self-capacity alterations, and destructive conflict management strategies. Researchers and practitioners have access to a promising measure of memories of exposure to IC in childhood that could be used, free of fees, to document past family experiences and inform well-tailored services.

Cumulative childhood trauma (CCT) increases the risk of relationship difficulties in adulthood. Couples welcoming a new child are particularly prone to relationship distress, and CCT survivors may be especially vulnerable during this period. This study examined the association between CCT and relationship satisfaction and tested the role of parental alliance in this association. A random sample of 1136 different-gender parental couples completed online self-report questionnaires. Path analyses guided by the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model revealed that parents' CCT was associated with their own lower relationship satisfaction through their own and their partner's parental alliance in both mothers and fathers. Results also revealed dyadic associations between one parent's CCT and their partner's relationship satisfaction through their own and their partner's parental alliance. These findings support the relevance of couple interventions focusing on the parental alliance to improve relational well-being in parental couples where one or both partners have experienced CCT.

In adolescent dating relationships, controlling behaviors are typically used to alter the partner’s behavior and beliefs. Control has deleterious consequences for the victims’ well-being and has been shown to lead to the perpetration and escalation of other forms of violence (e.g., physical or sexual). Despite the importance of assessing controlling behaviors in adolescent dating relationships, no specific measure is currently available. To address this gap, the current study aimed to develop and validate the Control in Dating Relationships Scale (CDRS) which measures controlling behaviors in adolescent dating relationships. Two samples of French-speaking dating adolescents were recruited via social media ( n 1 = 311; n 2 = 325). Results of the exploratory factor analyses conducted in the first study revealed a two-factor structure of Isolation (α = .88) and Domination (α = .84), as well as strong temporal stability of scores over 3 months for both Isolation ( r = .63) and Domination ( r = .59). These results were cross-validated in the second sample, with evidence of convergent validity and support for measurement invariance across the victimization and perpetration scales. The CDRS is a promising tool to aid researchers in assessing the presence of controlling behaviors in adolescent dating relationships and, consequently, help inform dating violence prevention programs on controlling behaviors, their consequences, and the risk of escalation into other forms of violence.

Background: Studies have identified the use of coping strategies as a key predictor of psychological outcomes in sexually abused children. However, given contradictory results in past studies, the association between approach strategies and the socio-emotional functioning of child victims remains to be clarified. Moreover, the flexible use of approach and avoidance strategies may be a more potent predictor of outcomes rather than considering these strategies separately. Objective: Using a person-centered approach, this study aimed to 1) discern different patterns of coping strategies among sexually abused children and 2) examine whether these patterns are associated with emotion regulation and behavior problems at Time 1 and Time 2 (six months later). Participants and setting: A sample of 564 children aged 6 to 12 was recruited in specialized intervention centers following disclosure of sexual abuse. Methods: Children self-reported their coping strategies mobilized following sexual abuse. Parents completed measures of emotion regulation and behavior problems of children at two time-points. Results: Three profiles were identified: Low coping (37.77%), High approach and high avoidance (19.86%), and High approach and low avoidance (42.37%). The Low coping profile showed low levels of behavior problems and high emotion regulation. Children assigned to the High approach and high avoidance profile showed more externalized behavior than the two other profiles, and greater levels of emotion dysregulation relative to children assigned to the Low coping profile. Conclusion: This study highlights the complex nature of coping strategies in sexually abused children, revealing that the interplay between approach and avoidance significantly influences their socio-emotional functioning.

Uit onderzoek is gebleken dat interpersoonlijk jeugdtrauma gerelateerd is aan slechtere ouderlijke en koppeluitkomsten na de geboorte van een kind. De ouderlijke samenwerkingsrelatie is een bijzonder aspect van het ouderlijk functioneren, speelt daarom een belangrijke rol tijdens deze overgangsperiode en de samenwerkingsrelatie van ouders staat ook in verband met het welzijn van ouder en kind op langere termijn. Toch is er nog maar weinig onderzoek gedaan naar de ouderlijke samenwerkingsrelatie in relatie tot jeugdtrauma en is er nog weinig bekend over de onderliggende mechanismen van deze relatie bij koppels. Bekend is wel dat dispositionele mindfulness een rol speelt bij de partnerrelatie van slachtoffers van interpersoonlijk trauma in hun kindertijd, en daarom zou dit ook hier een verklarend mechanisme kunnen zijn. Vanuit een dyadische benadering hebben we in deze studie de rol van dispositionele mindfulness en de verschillende aspecten ervan onderzocht, in de relatie tussen cumulatief interpersoonlijke jeugdtrauma (CCIT) en de ouderlijke samenwerkingsrelatie. Een random geselecteerde bevolkingssteekproef van 421 jonge ouders heeft hiertoe online vragenlijsten ingevuld. Zowel bij de moeders als bij de vaders blijkt CCIT in verband te staat met een negatievere perceptie van de ouderlijke samenwerkingsrelatie als gevolg van lagere dispositionele mindfulness, vooral door lagere scores voor de niet-oordelende en beschrijvende aspecten. Daarnaast komen uit de resultaten dyadische indirecte effecten naar voren tussen de CCIT van de ouders en hun ouderlijke samenwerkingsrelatie als gevolg van de dispositionele mindfulness van beide partners. Deze studie geeft inzicht in de manier waarop jonge ouders door hun dispositionele mindfulness elkaars gepercipieerde ouderlijke samenwerkingsrelatie beïnvloeden. Uit de resultaten blijkt ook het belang van mindfulness als een belangrijk mechanisme voor CCIT-slachtoffers die moeite hebben om een positieve ouderlijke samenwerkingsrelatie op te bouwen of in stand te houden. Ook blijkt uit de resultaten hoe belangrijk het is om beide ouders bij het onderzoek en de interventie te betrekken.

Introduction Mental health professionals (MHP) are exposed to several stressors and have emotionally demanding jobs. They must effectively manage their emotions within their everyday practice. Emotion regulation is therefore a key element in understanding how MHPs can protect themselves psychologically. Abundant research shows that healthy and effective emotion regulation can protect against the negative impact of stress on compassion fatigue. However, this perspective does not consider the dynamic interaction that emotion regulation and compassion fatigue can have over time. A much less researched perspective is how compassion fatigue can change emotion regulation styles over time. The present research focused on this dynamic perspective. Objective We took advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic, a stressful period for MHPs, to study the effect of perceived stress on the direction of the changes in emotion regulation styles and compassion fatigue over time. Methods Data on stressors, perceived stress, emotion regulation styles (i.e., dysregulation, integration, and suppression), and compassion fatigue were collected from 390 MHPs at two time points over ten months. Results Findings from a cross-lagged path analysis suggests that perceived stress predicted increases in dysregulation over time. Moreover, there were bidirectional longitudinal associations between dysregulation and compassion fatigue, with each predicting increases in compassion fatigue and dysregulation over time, respectively. Conclusions This study contributes to the limited research on the factors that influence how MHPs regulate their emotions and their susceptibility to compassion fatigue. Implications of emotion regulation for MHPs’ own mental health and ability to do their work effectively are discussed.

Physical dating violence is a widespread problem in adolescence, which often occurs during conflict escalation. Given that individual reports may be subject to many biases, including data from both partners is essential to yield a more accurate portrait of adolescent dating relationships. This study sought to examine within-dyad agreement rates as well as dyadic associations between both partners’ conflict behaviors and physical dating violence using actor-partner interdependence modeling. The sample consisted of 126 different-sex adolescent couples (n = 252, girls: Mage = 17.34, SD = 1.39, boys: Mage = 17.98, SD = 1.65). Each partner independently completed an online questionnaire. The results revealed that boys and girls mostly disagree about what is going on within their relationship, and that the use of destructive conflict behaviors equally contributed to both partner’s physical dating violence perpetration and victimization. Increasing youth’s awareness of their own and their partner’s behaviors during conflict is key in preventing conflict escalation, and ultimately reducing the incidence of physical dating violence.

Background: Adolescent dating violence (ADV) is a major public health concern experienced by more than half of adolescents. Previous studies have found considerable diversity in patterns of ADV and suggest that its various forms often occur concurrently and reciprocally within adolescent dating relationships. While multiple robust distal correlates of ADV have already been established, research on situational factors, such as conflict-related variables, is still sparse. Objective: This study aimed to identify patterns of ADV based on the co-occurrence of different types of ADV victimization and perpetration. Multiple correlates of these ADV patterns were examined, including daily conflict-related factors (e.g., occurrence, resolution). Methods: A sample of 216 adolescents (M = 17.03 years; SD = 1.49) who were currently involved in a dating relationship completed a baseline assessment followed by 14 consecutive daily diaries. Results: Latent class analysis revealed five classes, including Low violence (21.8 %), Emotional violence (50.9 %), Emotional and sexual violence (13 %), Psychological violence and control (7.9 %), and Multiple violence (6.5 %). Demographic, relationship, distal, and daily conflict-related indicators differentiated the classes. Findings indicated that youth in the Psychological violence and control and Multiple violence classes were involved in longer-lasting relationships and displayed higher externalized problems and emotion dysregulation, more frequent experiences of childhood traumas, and, notably, more difficulties in managing daily conflicts. Conclusion: Adolescence is a crucial time to reduce the onset, persistence, and adverse consequences of ADV. By identifying situational conflict-related factors associated with ADV victimization and perpetration, this study can inform important prevention efforts.

Parents who have experienced cumulative childhood interpersonal trauma (CCIT, i.e., an accumulation of different types of abuse) tend to experience higher parental stress following the birth of a child. As CCIT is associated with lower levels of partner support, which is linked to increased parental stress, partner support could explain the link between CCIT and parental stress. Yet, these variables have never been studied using a dyadic approach. This study examined the role of received and provided partner support in the association between CCIT and parental stress. A randomly selected sample of 1119 couples with infants completed online questionnaires assessing CCIT, partner support, and parental stress. An actor-partner interdependence model path analysis showed that both parents' CCIT were associated with increased paternal stress through fathers' lower received and provided support, and with increased maternal stress through mothers' received and provided support. Overall, the findings highlight the significance of examining the interdependence between both parents' experience and the role of partner support as a key factor explaining the link between CCIT and parental stress, thereby emphasizing its importance as an intervention target.

The sense of parental competence refers to one’s judgment of one’s own parenting abilities and plays a critical role in parental functioning. Studies have shown a link between childhood interpersonal traumas and a lower sense of parental competence. Yet, psychological neglect, a more subtle but still devastating childhood trauma, and its association with the sense of parental competence remain understudied. Mindfulness disposition (i.e., capacity to act with awareness, to observe, and to describe one’s internal and external experiences without reactivity or judgment) could help to understand this link, as survivors of psychological neglect report lower mindfulness dispositions, which might lead to a lower sense of parental competence. This study aimed to examine the direct and indirect relationship between psychological neglect and the sense of parental competence through mindfulness disposition in parental couples. A Canadian sample of 871 heterosexual parental couples randomly selected from the Quebec parental insurance plan’s list of new births was recruited. Both parents completed self-reported questionnaires assessing psychological neglect, mindfulness disposition, and the sense of parental competence. Path analysis revealed significant associations between a higher level of psychological neglect and a lower sense of parental competence (R2mothers = 11.6

Parents of an infant may be particularly vulnerable to peritraumatic distress (e.g., psychological distress experienced during or immediately following a traumatic event) associated with events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Since peritraumatic distress could affect both their psychological well-being and their couple relationship functioning, it is essential to measure and document these symptoms within parents. The COVID-19 Peritraumatic Distress Index (CPDI; Qiu et al., 2020) was the first validated instrument to measure COVID-19 peritraumatic distress, but it has not yet been validated in French. This study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the French-Canadian version of the CPDI (F-CPDI) in a sample of 492 parents (58% of mothers) of an infant in Quebec Province (Canada). The factor structure, internal consistency, and convergent validity of the instrument were tested. Results indicate that the F-CPDI has good internal consistency and supports the four-factor structure proposed by the authors of the original instrument. Results of correlation analyses indicated that peritraumatic distress was related to increased psychological distress, postpartum depression, and lower life satisfaction. Results indicate satisfactory psychometric qualities for the F-CPDI, providing researchers and mental health professionals access to a COVID-19 peritraumatic distress measure. This questionnaire can be used to assess peritraumatic distress in parents of an infant during a pandemic period, which is a first step towards offering adapted intervention strategies.

L’agression sexuelle (AS) à l’enfance est associée à plusieurs conséquences, telles que des problèmes de comportement extériorisés et intériorisés. En plus de l’environnement social et familial, l’environnement scolaire est susceptible d’influencer le développement de l’enfant (Pérez-González et al., 2017). Peu d’études ont exploré l’impact du fonctionnement en milieu scolaire sur l’adaptation des enfants victimes. Cette étude vise à explorer la contribution du fonctionnement scolaire à la prédiction de problèmes de comportement évalués six mois plus tard chez des enfants victimes d’AS. L’échantillon comprend 152 enfants victimes d’AS âgé.es de 6 à 12 ans (M = 9,09; ÉT = 2,01) recruté.es dans différents centres spécialisés en AS, leur parent non-agresseur et leur enseignant.e. L’enfant et l’enseignant.e ont rempli des questionnaires au premier temps de mesure (T1) mesurant le fonctionnement adaptatif, la victimisation par les pairs, les compétences sociales, les stratégies d’adaptation et les attributions hostiles de l’enfant. Six mois plus tard (T2), le parent et l’enseignant.e ont complété des mesures de problèmes de comportement intériorisés et extériorisés de l’enfant. Les analyses de régressions hiérarchiques révèlent qu’un score élevé de fonctionnement adaptatif au T1 est associé à moins de problèmes de comportement extériorisés et intériorisés rapportés par l’enseignant.e au T2. Par ailleurs, un score élevé de contrôle de soi au T1 est lié à moins de comportements extériorisés évalués par le parent et l’enseignant.e au T2. Ces résultats soulignent l’importance d’évaluer différentes variables du fonctionnement scolaire des enfants victimes d’AS, puisqu’elles contribuent à prédire l’adaptation des enfants à court terme.