Dyadic Analysis of Childhood Emotional Maltreatment and Marital Satisfaction During the Transition to Parenthood: The Mediating Effects of Emotion Regulation Strategies and Psychological Distress
Abstract
Childhood emotional maltreatment (CEM) has been found to be associated with marital dissatisfaction. However, less attention has been paid to the married couples during the initial transition to parenthood from the perspective of both partners, as well as the underlying mechanisms by which parents’ CEM histories are related to marital satisfaction. The purposes of this study were to examine the relation between CEM and current marital satisfaction among first-time parents using dyadic analysis, and to test the serial mediating effects of emotion regulation strategies and psychological distress. A total of 156 couples during the transition to parenthood from mainland China reported on CEM, emotion regulation strategies (i.e., cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression), psychological distress (i.e., depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms), and marital satisfaction at 6 months postpartum. Results indicated that paternal depression significantly mediated the paths from paternal emotional maltreatment to paternal and maternal marital dissatisfaction. In comparison, maternal depression significantly mediated the link between maternal CEM and maternal marital dissatisfaction. In addition, the association between maternal CEM and maternal marital satisfaction was serially mediated by maternal cognitive reappraisal and maternal depression. This study highlights the importance of examining the link between CEM and marital satisfaction and its underlying mechanisms from the dyadic perspective.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Women and men's childhood emotional maltreatment (CEA and CEN) were not significantly related to their partner's expressive suppression (Liu et al., 2019).
“Women and men’s childhood emotional maltreatment (CEA and CEN) were not significantly related to their partner’s expressive suppression, an emotion regulation strategy (Liu et al., 2019)”
From Partner Effects of Childhood Maltreatment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (2024) · cites this paper as Liu et al., 2019
Men's childhood emotional maltreatment (CEA and CEN) was related to their partner's lower reports of cognitive reappraisal (Liu et al., 2019).
“Men’s childhood emotional maltreatment (CEA and CEN) was related to their partner’s lower reports of cognitive reappraisal, an emotion regulation strategy (Liu et al., 2019)”
From Partner Effects of Childhood Maltreatment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (2024) · cites this paper as Liu et al., 2019
Women's childhood emotional maltreatment was not significantly related to their partner's reports of cognitive reappraisal (Liu et al., 2019).
“women’s childhood emotional maltreatment was not significantly related to their partner’s reports of cognitive reappraisal, an emotion regulation strategy (Liu et al., 2019)”
From Partner Effects of Childhood Maltreatment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (2024) · cites this paper as Liu et al., 2019
Cites
Podsakoff, P. M., MacKenzie, S. B., Lee, J.-Y., & Podsakoff, N. P. (2003) · Journal of Applied Psychology · doi:10.1037/0021-9010.88.5.879 · Cited by 82,194 · see citing works
Gross, J. J., & John, O. P. (2003) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.85.2.348 · Cited by 11,929 · cited 4× · see citing works
“…reappraisal has been identified as an important protective factor, which contributes to the maintenance of positive affect and well-being (Gross & John, 2003;Hu et al., 2014), and the reduction of psychological distress (Desrosiers, Vine, Curtiss, & Klemanski, 2014; Joormann & Gotlib,…”
BackgroundMethodInfluentialDevelopment and validation of a brief screening version of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire
Bernstein, D. P., Stein, J. A., Newcomb, M. D., Walker, E., Pogge, D., Ahluvalia, T., Stokes, J., Handelsman, L., Medrano, M., Desmond, D., et al. (2003) · Child Abuse & Neglect · doi:10.1016/s0145-2134(02)00541-0 · Cited by 6,419 · see citing works
Short Marital-Adjustment and Prediction Tests: Their Reliability and Validity
Locke, H. J., & Wallace, K. M. (1959) · Marriage and Family Living · doi:10.2307/348022 · Cited by 2,913 · see citing works
Interdependence, Interaction, and Relationships
Rusbult, C. E., & Van Lange, P. A. M. (2003) · Annual Review of Psychology · doi:10.1146/annurev.psych.54.101601.145059 · Cited by 1,235 · see citing works
Emotion regulation in depression: Relation to cognitive inhibition
Joormann, J., & Gotlib, I. H. (2009) · Cognition & Emotion · doi:10.1080/02699930903407948 · Cited by 1,234 · see citing works
Attentional biases for negative interpersonal stimuli in clinical depression
Gotlib, I. H., Krasnoperova, E., Yue, D. N., & Joormann, J. (2004) · Journal of Abnormal Psychology · doi:10.1037/0021-843x.113.1.121 · Cited by 911 · see citing works
Relation between Emotion Regulation and Mental Health: A Meta-Analysis Review
Hu, T., Zhang, D., Wang, J., Mistry, R., Ran, G., & Wang, X. (2014) · Psychological Reports · doi:10.2466/03.20.pr0.114k22w4 · Cited by 639 · see citing works
Cross-cultural validation of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale–21 in China.
Wang, K., Shi, H.-S., Geng, F.-L., Zou, L.-Q., Tan, S.-P., Wang, Y., Neumann, D. L., Shum, D. H. K., & Chan, R. C. K. (2016) · Psychological Assessment · doi:10.1037/pas0000207 · Cited by 635 · see citing works
Infurna, M. R., Reichl, C., Parzer, P., Schimmenti, A., Bifulco, A. T., & Kaess, M. (2015) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2015.09.006 · Cited by 582 · see citing works
Barth, J., Munder, T., Gerger, H., Nüesch, E., Trelle, S., Znoj, H., Jüni, P., & Cuijpers, P. (2013) · PLoS Medicine · doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1001454 · Cited by 569 · see citing works
Kuyken, W., Hayes, R., Barrett, B., Byng, R., Dalgleish, T., Kessler, D., Lewis, G., Watkins, E., Brejcha, C., Cardy, J., et al. (2015) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(14)62222-4 · Cited by 527 · see citing works
Psychopathology and Marital Satisfaction: The Importance of Evaluating Both Partners.
Whisman, M. A., Uebelacker, L. A., & Weinstock, L. M. (2004) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-006x.72.5.830 · Cited by 330 · see citing works
The combined cognitive bias hypothesis in depression
Everaert, J., Koster, E. H. W., & Derakshan, N. (2012) · Clinical Psychology Review · doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2012.04.003 · Cited by 320 · see citing works
Huh, H. J., Kim, K. H., Lee, H.-K., & Chae, J. (2017) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2017.02.009 · Cited by 314 · see citing works
Gender differences in the link between marital support and satisfaction in older couples.
Acitelli, L. K., & Antonucci, T. C. (1994) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037//0022-3514.67.4.688 · Cited by 269 · see citing works
A Brief Intervention to Promote Conflict Reappraisal Preserves Marital Quality Over Time
Finkel, E. J., Slotter, E. B., Luchies, L. B., Walton, G. M., & Gross, J. J. (2013) · Psychological Science · doi:10.1177/0956797612474938 · Cited by 222 · see citing works
[Solitary median maxillary central incisor syndrome:a case of report].
Kang, L.-Y., & Liu, X. (2014) · PubMed · Cited by 208 · see citing works
Milfont, T. L., & Sibley, C. G. (2016) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2015.10.044 · Cited by 185 · see citing works
Fernando, S. C., Beblo, T., Schlosser, N., Terfehr, K., Otte, C., Löwe, B., Wolf, O. T., Spitzer, C., Drießen, M., & Wingenfeld, K. (2013) · Journal of Trauma & Dissociation · doi:10.1080/15299732.2013.863262 · Cited by 167 · see citing works
Desrosiers, A., Vine, V., Curtiss, J., & Klemanski, D. H. (2014) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2014.04.024 · Cited by 163 · see citing works
Vater, A., & Schröder–Abé, M. (2015) · European Journal of Personality · doi:10.1002/per.1993 · Cited by 162 · see citing works
DiLillo, D., Peugh, J., Walsh, K., Panuzio, J., Trask, E., & Evans, S. (2009) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/a0015708 · Cited by 130 · see citing works
Mills, P. A., Newman, E., Cossar, J. A., & Murray, G. C. (2014) · Child Abuse & Neglect · doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2014.05.011 · Cited by 122 · see citing works
Changes in attachment orientations across the transition to parenthood
Simpson, J. A., Rholes, W. S., Campbell, L., & Wilson, C. L. (2003) · Journal of Experimental Social Psychology · doi:10.1016/s0022-1031(03)00030-1 · Cited by 121 · see citing works
Childhood psychological maltreatment subtypes and adolescent depressive symptoms
Paul, E., & Eckenrode, J. J. (2015) · Child Abuse & Neglect · doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2015.05.018 · Cited by 111 · see citing works
Boyes, M. E., Hasking, P. A., & Martin, G. (2015) · Stress and Health · doi:10.1002/smi.2635 · Cited by 105 · see citing works
Relationship Satisfaction Trajectories Across the Transition to Parenthood Among Low‐Risk Parents
Don, B. P., & Mickelson, K. D. (2014) · Journal of Marriage and the Family · doi:10.1111/jomf.12111 · Cited by 103 · see citing works
Liu, L., & Wang, M. (2015) · Child Abuse & Neglect · doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2015.01.014 · Cited by 103 · see citing works
Depression, Marital Satisfaction and Communication in Couples: Investigating Gender Differences
Gabriel, B., Beach, S. R. H., & Bodenmann, G. (2010) · Behavior Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.beth.2009.09.001 · Cited by 96 · see citing works
Stroud, C. B., Meyers, K. M., Wilson, S., & Durbin, C. E. (2014) · Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology · doi:10.1080/15374416.2014.900720 · Cited by 82 · see citing works
Larsen, J. K., Vermulst, A. A., Eisinga, R., English, T., Gross, J. J., Hofman, E., Scholte, R. H. J., & Engels, R. C. M. E. (2012) · Journal of Youth and Adolescence · doi:10.1007/s10964-012-9782-7 · Cited by 80 · see citing works
Predictors of Change in Relationship Satisfaction during the Transition to Parenthood
Trillingsgaard, T., Baucom, K. J. W., & Heyman, R. E. (2014) · Family Relations · doi:10.1111/fare.12089 · Cited by 75 · see citing works
Parenting Stress and Sexual Satisfaction Among First-Time Parents: A Dyadic Approach
Leavitt, C. E., McDaniel, B. T., Maas, M. K., & Feinberg, M. E. (2016) · Sex Roles · doi:10.1007/s11199-016-0623-0 · Cited by 71 · see citing works
Bradbury, L. L., & Shaffer, A. (2012) · Journal of Aggression Maltreatment & Trauma · doi:10.1080/10926771.2012.678466 · Cited by 62 · see citing works
Dias, A., Sales, L., Hessen, D. J., & Kleber, R. J. (2014) · European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry · doi:10.1007/s00787-014-0621-0 · Cited by 62 · see citing works
Maneta, E. K., Cohen, S., Schulz, M. S., & Waldinger, R. J. (2015) · Child Abuse & Neglect · doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2014.07.017 · Cited by 62 · see citing works
Renshaw, K. D., Rodebaugh, T. L., & Rodrigues, C. S. (2010) · Journal of Anxiety Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2010.05.007 · Cited by 56 · see citing works
Childhood Psychological Maltreatment and Quality of Marriage
Perry, A., DiLillo, D., & Peugh, J. (2007) · Journal of Emotional Abuse · doi:10.1300/j135v07n02_07 · Cited by 51 · see citing works
Sai, L., Luo, S., Ward, A., & Sang, B. (2016) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01222 · Cited by 43 · see citing works
Sutton, T. E., Simons, L. G., Simons, R. L., & Cutrona, C. E. (2016) · Journal of Marriage and the Family · doi:10.1111/jomf.12352 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Emotional maltreatment in family of origin and young adult romantic relationship satisfaction
Peterson, C. M., Peugh, J., Loucks, L. A., & Shaffer, A. E. (2017) · Journal of Social and Personal Relationships · doi:10.1177/0265407517700300 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Fear, Anger, and Risk Preference Reversals: An Experimental Study on a Chinese Sample
She, S., Eimontaite, I., Zhang, D., & Sun, Y. (2017) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01371 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Bai, L., & Han, Z. R. (2016) · Parenting · doi:10.1080/15295192.2016.1158602 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Links between marital quality, the mother–child relationship and child behavior
Mark, K. M., & Pike, A. (2016) · International Journal of Behavioral Development · doi:10.1177/0165025416635281 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Enebrink, P., Björnsdotter, A., & Ghaderi, A. (2013) · PsycEXTRA Dataset · doi:10.1037/e562792013-009 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Guo, Y., Gu, J., Gaskin, J., Yin, X.-Q., Zhang, Y., & Wang, J.-L. (2023) · International Journal of Child Abuse & Neglect · doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106134 · Cited by 57 · see citing works
Emotion regulation and mental health across cultures: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Chen, S., Cai, Q., Omari, D. I., Sanghvi, D. E., Lyu, S., & Bonanno, G. A. (2025) · Nature Human Behaviour · doi:10.1038/s41562-025-02168-8 · Cited by 61 · see citing works
Partner Effects of Childhood Maltreatment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Vaillancourt-Morel, M.-P., Bussières, È.-L., Nolin, M.-C., & Daspe, M.-È. (2024) · Trauma, Violence, & Abuse · doi:10.1177/15248380231173427 · Cited by 35 · see citing works
“…emotional maltreatment (CEA and CEN) was related to their partner’s lower reports of cognitive reappraisal, an emotion regulation strategy (Liu et al., 2019), men’s CSA was related to their partner’s maladaptive attempts to cope with negative affect (DiLillo et al., 2016), and men’s…”
BackgroundCao, H., Ma, R., Li, X., Liang, Y., Wu, Q., Chi, P., Li, J.-B., & Zhou, N. (2022) · Trauma, Violence, & Abuse · doi:10.1177/1524838020975895 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Cognitive training improves emotion regulation in Chinese preschool children
Xie, J., Liu, S., & Fang, P. (2021) · Pediatrics International · doi:10.1111/ped.14661 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Self-citationHeshmati, R., Zemestani, M., & Vujanovic, A. A. (2021) · Journal of Interpersonal Violence · doi:10.1177/0886260521997438 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Godbout, N., Paradis, A., Rassart, C.-A., Sadikaj, G., Herba, C. M., & Drapeau-Lamothe, M. (2023) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2023.01.007 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Emotion regulation strategies and perceived stress during pregnancy in expectant mothers and fathers
Penner, F., Bunderson, M., Bartz, C., Brooker, R. J., & Rutherford, H. J. (2024) · Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology · doi:10.1080/02646838.2022.2110224 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Childhood maltreatment in maternal helpless caregiving: The mediating role of defensive functioning
Carone, N., & Tracchegiani, J. (2024) · Journal of Family Trauma Child Custody & Child Development · doi:10.1080/26904586.2024.2434855 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Maternal History of Childhood Maltreatment and Control Strategies: A Search for Mechanisms
Liu, S., Dong, S., & Wang, Z. (2021) · Journal of Marriage and the Family · doi:10.1111/jomf.12751 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Self-citationChildhood Emotional Maltreatment and Romantic Relationships: The Role of Compassionate Goals
Sun, L., Canevello, A., Lewis, K. A., Li, J., & Crocker, J. (2021) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.723126 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Aviles, A. I., Reisz, S., Jacobvitz, D. B., & Hazen, N. L. (2022) · Journal of Social and Personal Relationships · doi:10.1177/02654075221074382 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Nasiri, P., Mousavi, S. F., & Mollazadeh, J. (2021) · Iranian Journal of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.32598/ijpcp.27.4.3506.1 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Harvey, F. M., Paradis, A., Daspe, M., Dion, J., & Godbout, N. (2023) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-023-02262-w · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Center M Pilot Trial: Integrating Preventive Mental Health Care in Routine Prenatal Care
Tilden, E. L., Shank, T. M., Orzech, C. P., Holmes, L. R., Granados, R., Moosavisahebozamani, S., Starr, D., Caughey, A. B., Graham, A. M., & Seghete, K. L. M. (2024) · Journal of Midwifery & Women s Health · doi:10.1111/jmwh.13709 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Nabavi, M., Shahbazi, M., & Koraei, A. (2021) · The Journal Of Psychological Science · doi:10.52547/jps.20.106.1897 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Martin, L., Renshaw, K. D., Curby, T. W., & Feinberg, M. E. (2025) · Family Process · doi:10.1111/famp.70078 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Li, J., Ding, W., Yao, H., Chen, T., Li, W., & Xie, R. (2025) · Aggressive Behavior · doi:10.1002/ab.70047 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Donofry, S. D., Winograd, D., Kothari, D., Call, C. C., Magee, K. E., Jouppi, R. J., Kolko, R. P., & Levine, M. D. (2024) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph21050622 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Prime, H., Muise, A., Benyamin, V., Thabane, L., & Wade, M. (2022) · Pilot and Feasibility Studies · doi:10.1186/s40814-022-01115-y · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Duru, E., & Balkıs, M. (2024) · Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy · doi:10.1007/s10942-024-00570-1 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Baumann, M., Villeneuve, É., Bélanger, C., Paradis, A., Herba, C. M., & Godbout, N. (2025) · Journal of Marital and Family Therapy · doi:10.1111/jmft.70002 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Korhonen, L. S., Nolvi, S., Peltola, V. T., Lukkarinen, M. M., Korja, R., Karlsson, L., & Karlsson, H. (2023) · BJPsych Open · doi:10.1192/bjo.2023.59 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Tajik, M., Emamhadi, M. A., Akbari, S. A. A., Doulabi, M. A., & NejadAsl, P. R. (2022) · International Journal of Medical Toxicology and Forensic Medicine · doi:10.32598/ijmtfm.v12i1.35741 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Relationships Between Emotional Regulation and Marital Satisfaction
Roslan, S. B., Hoesni, S. M., & Khatib, N. A. M. (2023) · International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences · doi:10.6007/ijarbss/v13-i12/19780 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Jalalvand, M., Navabinejad, S., Bahadoran, H. R., & Babadi, A. K. (2022) · doi:10.61838/kman.aftj.3.1.10 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Childhood Maltreatment and Parental Marital Satisfaction: The Roles of Depression and AnxietyPreprint
Chen, C. (2022) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-1718716/v1 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Ekşi, H., Gündüz, A., & Gündoğmuş, İ. (2024) · Psikiyatride Guncel Yaklasimlar - Current Approaches in Psychiatry · doi:10.18863/pgy.1361117
Using MEDYAD Macro to Test the Mediation Effect in Dyadic Data
Özdil, S. Ö. (2025) · Ankara Universitesi Egitim Bilimleri Fakultesi Dergisi · doi:10.30964/auebfd.1618770
Ömür, M. S., & Eken, F. O. (2025) · Ahi Evran Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi · doi:10.31592/aeusbed.1669680
Zhang, L., & Yang, X. (2026) · Child & Family Social Work · doi:10.1111/cfs.70124
Çelik, O. T., Uçar, T., & Baransel, E. S. (2026) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-025-08523-2
Varghese, A. M., & Alfonso, T. (2026) · Family Relations · doi:10.1111/fare.70329
Neural correlates of maternal empathy as a function of childhood emotional abuse history
Swain, J. E., Ho, S.-H. S., Guyon‐Harris, K. L., Ahlfs-Dunn, S. M., Pitzen, J., Riggs, J. L., Amadio, J., Eggers, E. E., & Huth‐Bocks, A. C. (2026) · Journal of Neuroendocrinology · doi:10.1111/jne.70295
- Authors
- Liu, S., Wang, Z., Lu, S., & Shi, J.
- Affiliations
- Capital Normal University (CN)
- Corresponding author
- Wang, Zhengyan
- Venue
- Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2018-05-25
- Volume
- 28
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 1216-1231
- ISSN
- 1092-6771 (ISSN-L)
- 1545-083X
- OpenAlex
- W2803883313
- Cited by
- 34
- References
- 46
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 1
- FWCI
- 2.06
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Aggression Maltreatment & Trauma (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China (31470994)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
- Social Sciences › Health › Intimate Partner and Family Violence
- Keywords
- childhood emotional abuse, marital satisfaction, transition to parenthood, emotion regulation strategies, cognitive reappraisal, expressive suppression, psychological distress, depression, anxiety, stress, new parents, dyadic analysis, serial mediation
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
