Modeling the Effects of Childhood Emotional Neglect on Adult Romantic Relationship Quality through Attachment Avoidance and Emotional Intimacy
Keywords:
Childhood Emotional Neglect, Romantic Relationship Quality, Attachment Avoidance, Emotional Intimacy, Attachment TheoryAbstract
The present study aimed to examine the direct and indirect effects of childhood emotional neglect on adult romantic relationship quality through the mediating roles of attachment avoidance and emotional intimacy among adults involved in committed romantic relationships. This cross-sectional correlational study was conducted among 524 adults residing in Canada who were currently involved in committed romantic relationships. Participants were recruited from major Canadian urban centers through online platforms, community organizations, and university research networks. Data were collected using the Emotional Neglect subscale of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire–Short Form (CTQ-SF), the Avoidance dimension of the Experiences in Close Relationships–Revised Questionnaire (ECR-R), the Emotional Intimacy Scale (EIS), and the Couples Satisfaction Index (CSI-32). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to examine the hypothesized relationships among childhood emotional neglect, attachment avoidance, emotional intimacy, and romantic relationship quality. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to evaluate the measurement model, and mediation effects were assessed using a bias-corrected bootstrap procedure with 5,000 resamples. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 29 and AMOS version 29. The structural equation model demonstrated excellent fit to the data (χ²/df = 2.08, CFI = 0.96, TLI = 0.95, GFI = 0.92, AGFI = 0.90, RMSEA = 0.045, SRMR = 0.046). Childhood emotional neglect significantly predicted attachment avoidance (β = 0.61, p < .001), emotional intimacy (β = -0.18, p < .001), and romantic relationship quality (β = -0.15, p < .001). Attachment avoidance significantly predicted emotional intimacy (β = -0.63, p < .001) and relationship quality (β = -0.36, p < .001). Emotional intimacy positively predicted romantic relationship quality (β = 0.54, p < .001). Bootstrap analyses revealed significant indirect effects of childhood emotional neglect on emotional intimacy through attachment avoidance (β = -0.38, p < .001) and on relationship quality through both attachment avoidance and emotional intimacy (β = -0.21, p < .001). The model explained 37% of the variance in attachment avoidance, 54% of the variance in emotional intimacy, and 69% of the variance in romantic relationship quality. The findings indicate that childhood emotional neglect exerts enduring negative effects on adult romantic relationship quality both directly and indirectly through increased attachment avoidance and reduced emotional intimacy. Attachment avoidance emerged as a key developmental mechanism linking early emotional deprivation to difficulties in emotional closeness and relationship functioning. Emotional intimacy served as a significant protective factor associated with higher relationship quality. These results highlight the importance of attachment-based and intimacy-focused interventions for individuals with histories of childhood emotional neglect and contribute to a deeper understanding of the developmental pathways connecting early adverse experiences to adult romantic relationship outcomes.
Downloads
References
Aracı‐İyiaydın, A., Toplu‐Demirtaş, E., Kayabol, N. B. A., & Rohner, R. P. (2023). All You Fear Is Love: The Roles of Rejection by Intimate Others. Personal Relationships, 30(2), 451-470. https://doi.org/10.1111/pere.12473
Cheung, S., & Huang, C. C. (2022). Adolescent Dating and Relationship Quality: The Role of Exposure to Intimate Partner Violence in Early Childhood. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 39(6), 1717-1738. https://doi.org/10.1177/02654075211062947
Doorn, G. V., Teese, R., & Dye, J. (2024). Adverse Childhood Experiences and Infidelity: The Mediating Roles of Anxious and Avoidant Attachment Styles. Family Process, 64(1). https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.13088
Fitzgerald, M., Berthiaume, K., & Schuler, J. (2024). Pathways From Childhood Maltreatment to the Quality of Adult Intimate Relationships: Inquiry Into Mindfulness, Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms, and Attributions. Traumatology an International Journal, 30(3), 447-455. https://doi.org/10.1037/trm0000447
Genç, E. (2025). Exploring the Moderated Mediation of Self-Differentiation in the Relationship Between Childhood Trauma and Partner Abuse. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6991566/v1
He, Y. (2024). The Impact of Adult Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder on Couple and Marriage Relationships: A Review of the Literature. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media, 46(1), 238-246. https://doi.org/10.54254/2753-7048/46/20230845
Höltge, J., Rohner, S. L., Heim, E., Nater, U. M., & Thoma, M. V. (2022). Differential Pathways From Child Maltreatment Types to Insecure Adult Attachment Styles via Psychological and Social Resources: A Bayesian Network Analysis. Journal of interpersonal violence, 38(11-12), 7089-7114. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605221140039
Jalilian, K., Momeni, K., & Jebraeili, H. (2023a). The Mediating Role of Early Maladaptive Schemas in the Relationship Between Attachment Styles and Loneliness. BMC psychology, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-023-01172-9
Jalilian, K., Momeni, K., & Jebraeili, H. (2023b). The Relationship Between Attachment Styles and Loneliness: The Mediating Role of Early Maladaptive Schemas. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2391389/v1
K., N., & K., N. (2024). Perceived Parental Involvement in Childhood and Its Relationship With Adult Attachment Styles and Depression in Adults. International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research, 6(3). https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2024.v06i03.20856
Kara, E., & Şahin, F. Y. (2022). Çocukluk Dönemi̇ Örselenme Yaşantilari, Evli̇li̇kte Öz Yetki̇nli̇k Ve İli̇şki̇sel Yilmazlik Arasindaki̇ İli̇şki̇ler: Bağlanma Sti̇lleri̇ni̇n Araci Rolü. The Journal of Academic Social Sciences, 124(124), 158-179. https://doi.org/10.29228/asos.51800
Langevin, R., Chabake, S. A., & Beaudette, S. (2025). Intergenerational Cycles of Maltreatment: An Updated Scoping Review of Psychosocial Risk and Protective Factors. Trauma Violence & Abuse. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248380251316908
Langevin, R., Hébert, M., Bernier, A., & Frappier, J. Y. (2022). Exploring the Prospective Role of Relationships and Psychological Distress in Postpartum Risk of Intergenerational Continuity of Child Maltreatment. International Journal of Child and Adolescent Resilience, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.54488/ijcar.2022.311
Li, H., & Zheng, L. (2021). Associations Between Early Life Harshness, Parents' Parenting Style, and Relationship Quality in China. Personal Relationships, 28(4), 998-1016. https://doi.org/10.1111/pere.12391
Malik, S., Joychan, S., Zajac, J. J., Sinisgalli, S., & Namerow, L. B. (2021). Using an Attachment-Informed Framework in the Clinical Care of Children and Adolescents: A Review of Attachment Theory and Its Impact on Developmental Psychopathology. Psychiatric Annals, 51(7), 300-315. https://doi.org/10.3928/00485713-20210608-01
Panagou, C., & MacBeth, A. (2022). Deconstructing Pathways to Resilience: A Systematic Review of Associations Between Psychosocial Mechanisms and Transdiagnostic Adult Mental Health Outcomes in the Context of Adverse Childhood Experiences. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 29(5), 1626-1654. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2732
Papalia, N., & Widom, C. S. (2023). Do Insecure Adult Attachment Styles Mediate the Relationship Between Childhood Maltreatment and Violent Behavior? Development and Psychopathology, 36(2), 636-647. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0954579422001468
Pfaff, A., & Schlarb, A. (2021). Child Maltreatment and Sleep: Two Pathways Explaining the Link. Journal of Sleep Research, 31(2). https://doi.org/10.1111/jsr.13455
Price, J., Hinton, R., Baker, C., Richardson, S. R., Wilson, C., & Becker, S. (2025). The Impact of Childhood Experiences on Sexual Behaviours and Intimate Relationships: A Systematic Review. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6905929/v1
Quan, L., Zhang, K., & Chen, H. (2025). The Relationship Between Childhood Trauma and Romantic Relationship Satisfaction: The Role of Attachment and Social Support. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1519699
River, L. M., Treter, M. O., Rhoades, G. K., & Narayan, A. J. (2021). Parent–Child Relationship Quality in the Family of Origin and Later Romantic Relationship Functioning: A Systematic Review. Family Process, 61(1), 259-277. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12650
Rokach, A., & MacFarlane, K. (2021). Abused Children and Their Relationships as Adults. Psychology and Mental Health Care, 5(3), 01-14. https://doi.org/10.31579/2637-8892/144
Sokar, S. (2024). Childhood Maltreatment and the Quality of Marital Relationships: Examining Mediating Pathways and Gender Differences. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 41(7), 1959-1979. https://doi.org/10.1177/02654075241232168
South, S. C., Boudreaux, M. J., & Oltmanns, T. F. (2022). Childhood Maltreatment, Personality Pathology, and Intimate Partner Aggression. Journal of interpersonal violence, 37(23-24), NP23107-NP23130. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605221076164
Stagaki, M., Nolte, T., Feigenbaum, J., King‐Casas, B., Lohrenz, T., Fonagy, P., & Montague, P. R. (2022). The Mediating Role of Attachment and Mentalising in the Relationship Between Childhood Maltreatment, Self-Harm and Suicidality. Child abuse & neglect, 128, 105576. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105576
Strickland, M. L., & Mosley, M. A. (2022). A Deeper Understanding of the Relationship Between Family of Origin and Young Adult Cyber Dating Abuse: A Mediation Model. Journal of Family Issues, 44(12), 3293-3316. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513x221134657
Sun, L., Canevello, A., Lewis, K. A., Li, J., & Crocker, J. (2021). Childhood Emotional Maltreatment and Romantic Relationships: The Role of Compassionate Goals. Frontiers in psychology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.723126
Tadros, E. (2024). Conceptualizing Couples Through Romantic Attachment and Love Language. The Family Journal, 33(4), 568-576. https://doi.org/10.1177/10664807241283038
Tolmacz, R., Bachner‐Melman, R., Lev‐Ari, L., & Almagor, K. (2022). Interparental Conflict and Relational Attitudes Within Romantic Relationships: The Mediating Role of Attachment Orientations. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 39(6), 1648-1668. https://doi.org/10.1177/02654075211061617
Whittington, D. D. (2023). Disorganized Attachment in Emerging Adulthood: Measurement Comparisons and Relations to Childhood Maltreatment and Emotion Dysregulation. Family Process, 63(1), 348-363. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12866
Wrobel, A., Russell, S. E., Jayasinghe, A., Lotfaliany, M., Turner, A., Dean, O., Cotton, S., Diaz‐Byrd, C., Yocum, A. K., Duval, E. R., Ehrlich, T. J., Marshall, D., Berk, M., & McInnis, M. G. (2022). Attachment Insecurity Partially Mediates the Relationship Between Childhood Trauma and Depression Severity in Bipolar Disorder. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 145(6), 591-603. https://doi.org/10.1111/acps.13419
Zamir, O. (2021). Childhood Maltreatment and Relationship Quality: A Review of Type of Abuse and Mediating and Protective Factors. Trauma Violence & Abuse, 23(4), 1344-1357. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838021998319
Zhou, Z. (2024). The Influence of Personality Shaping on Romantic Relationships in Early Adulthood. Journal of Education Humanities and Social Sciences, 26, 317-322. https://doi.org/10.54097/2s6emv80
Zhu, J., Racine, N., Tough, S., & Madigan, S. (2024). Pathways of Intergenerational Risk: Examining the Association Between Maternal Adverse Childhood Experiences and Child Socio-Emotional and Behavioral Concerns at 8 Years of Age. Child maltreatment, 30(2), 208-220. https://doi.org/10.1177/10775595241279365
Downloads
Published
Submitted
Revised
Accepted
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Yahya Braham (Author); Zhansaya Nessipbek ; Samuel Castro Vieira (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
