We Shall Overcome: The Association Between Family of Origin Adversity, Coming to Terms, and Relationship Quality in African Americans

The Residuum of Childhood Physical and Sexual Abuse: Coming to Terms in Couple Relationships

Childhood exposure to physical violence and sexual abuse is a public health concern and is empirically connected to poor outcomes in adulthood. The present study was designed to assess dyadic associations between exposure to childhood physical violence and sexual abuse, and resolution, or a sense that one has "come to terms" with events in one's family of origin. The study was also aimed at assessing whether attachment behaviors mediated associations between abuse, violence, and resolution. The study was carried out using data from a community sample of 3,836 heterosexual couples who completed the Relationship Evaluation Questionnaire inventory. Actor-Partner Interdependence Modeling was employed within a structural equation model to examine associations. Results suggested inverse, direct actor associations for both men and women between physical violence and sexual abuse, and coming to terms. The results also showed inverse, direct partner associations for both men and women between sexual abuse and coming to terms. Furthermore, findings indicated the presence of inverse, indirect actor and partner effects for men and women between physical violence and coming to terms. Examination of these specific indirect partner and actor effects from physical violence to coming to terms implies partial mediation carried through one's own rating of attachment behaviors. Finally, actor (but not partner) associations were noted between attachment behaviors and coming to terms. In aggregate, the findings support the potential benefit of enhancing investment in attachment behaviors as a resource to aid in the resolution process of exposure to physical violence and sexual abuse in childhood.

Family Adversity and Relationship Quality for Pacific Islanders and the Mediating Role of Coming to Terms, Self-Esteem, and Depression

This study investigated the association between family of origin (FOO) adversities and relationship quality for Pacific Islanders as well as the potential intermediary role of coming to terms (CTT), depression, and self-esteem. The sample consisted of 226 self-identified Pacific Islanders who completed the RELATE assessment (see www.relate-institute.org). Results indicated that greater levels of FOO adversity predicted lower levels of CTT. However, higher levels of CTT in turn associated with higher self-esteem, and lower levels of depression. Results also indicated that greater FOO adversity associates with lower relationship quality indirectly. The clinical implications of these findings and directions for future research are discussed.