Adverse Childhood Experiences among Couple Relationship Education Participants: Exploring Influence on Program Impact and Testing Models of Risk and Resilience

Abstract

The influence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on couple relationship education (CRE) experiences has received limited attention. In a sample of 1478 adults in couple relationships, we tested whether ACEs moderated CRE program efficacy and found no interaction of ACEs and program participation on relationship quality one year later, validating positive impact regardless of number of ACEs. Results from risk/resiliency process models indicate that mindfulness and romantic self-efficacy are comparatively stronger predictors of concurrent relationship quality than ACEs, and positive shifts in self-efficacy influence later improvements in relationship quality, while considering the number of ACEs.

Keywords:

• Couple relationship education
• couple relationships
• adverse childhood experiences

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration of Children and Families under Grant #90FM0082.