Two central roles for couple relationships: breaking negative intergenerational patterns and enhancing children's adaptation

Abstract

A commonly held belief, supported by therapists' experience, theories of psychopathology, and systematic research, is that without intervention, troubling or negative intergenerational patterns will be repeated in the next generation. It is usually assumed that the mechanisms of intergenerational transmission involve (1) observable transactions between parents and children, and (2) individuals' internal working models about what can be expected in intimate family relationships, based on recollections of relationships with parents or other key attachment figures. This paper presents evidence that couple relationships play a central role in maintaining or breaking intergenerational cycles. Furthermore, preventive interventions focused on strengthening the couple relationships of parents of young children have the potential to affect the parents' relationship quality and their children's social, emotional, and academic development.

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