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Parental conflict, neglect, and abuse in childhood can set the stage for vulnerability in adult relationships.

Victims of family trauma often repeat the past, handling conflicts like their parents did.

Accepting their parents’ limitations, naming abuse, and making meaning from their pasts can help victims heal.

How does unresolved family trauma affect a person’s marriage later in life?

This was the question at the center of a study conducted by psychologists Mehdi Rostami and Shokouh Navabinejad of the KMAN Research Institute in Canada. It is well-established that early trauma can reverberate throughout one’s social world well into adulthood. Childhood wounds, including parental conflict, neglect, and abuse, can set the stage for vulnerability in relationships as one grows older.

To pursue this inquiry, the investigators recruited 22 adults who experienced trauma in their family of origin. Fourteen were currently married, five were separated or divorced, and three were remarried. Participants were between 28 and 55 years old, had diverse professional backgrounds, and lived in Canada.

The team conducted semi-structured interviews, asking the participants three questions:

“Can you tell me about how your early family experiences have shaped your expectations in your marriage?” “What patterns or behaviors from your family of origin do you see influencing your current relationship dynamics?” “Have you experienced any recurring conflicts in your marriage that you associate with your past?”

“Can you tell me about how your early family........

© Psychology Today