Abstract
Childhood experiences shape how individuals relate and connect in adulthood. This pilot study examined the association between positive childhood experiences (PCEs) and romantic relationship quality among adults aged 32–45 in committed relationships (N = 197). Participants completed the Benevolent Childhood Experiences (BCE) scale and the Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS). Results from a simple linear regression indicated that BCE total scores significantly predicted RAS scores, F(1, 187) = 7.27, p = .008, with a small-to-medium effect size (R² = .037; β = .193). Findings highlight the value of assessing positive early experiences alongside adverse ones, emphasizing the potential role of PCEs in fostering higher-quality adult relationships. The study underscores implications for prevention and couples therapy by focusing on resilience-based perspectives in early developmental contexts.
Introduction
In recent years, there has been growing interest in understanding the long-term effects of childhood experiences on adult relationships, particularly in the context of romantic partnerships. While extensive research has explored the adverse impact of childhood trauma, fewer studies have examined the role of positive childhood experiences (PCEs) in shaping relationship quality and resilience in adulthood. This pilot study aims to bridge that gap by investigating the correlation between PCEs and romantic relationship quality (RQ) in adults aged 32–45 who are in committed relationships. Using validated measures such as the Benevolent Childhood Experiences (BCE) scale (Narayan et al., 2018) and the Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS) (Hendrick, 1988), this study seeks to provide insight into how supportive, nurturing environments during childhood may foster stronger, more resilient romantic relationships later in life. The age range of 32–45 years was selected to capture adults who are more likely to be in stable, long-term romantic partnerships and have established relational patterns. This developmental stage allows for greater comparability across participants in terms of relationship experience and emotional maturity, while minimizing variability associated with early adulthood transitions.
The importance of this research lies in its potential to shift the focus from a deficit-based perspective, commonly seen in the study of childhood adversities, to one that emphasizes resilience and positive outcomes (Bethell et al., 2019). By understanding the protective role of PCEs, mental health professionals can better assess and intervene in couples’ therapy, helping individuals and couples build on their strengths to enhance relationship satisfaction and stability. This study not only contributes to the growing body of resilience research but also underscores the lasting impact of childhood environments on adult relational health and well-being. Through this lens, we sought to explore the association between PCEs and RQ, offering a fresh perspective on fostering healthier and more resilient romantic partnerships. Building on the literature linking early experiences and adult attachment, the following review explores how PCEs contribute to emotional security, communication, and satisfaction in adult romantic relationships.
Literature Review
The quality of relationships in romantic partnerships plays a critical role in individuals’ well-being and resilience (Gottman, 2014; Lawrence et al., 2019). Research consistently demonstrates that positive relationship dynamics, such as trust, communication, support, and satisfaction, are associated with higher levels of individual well-being and resilience (Gottman, 2014; Lawrence et al., 2019). Strong, healthy relationships contribute to overall well-being by providing emotional support, intimacy, a sense of belonging, and when one feels valued and loved by their partner, they experience higher levels of happiness, life satisfaction, and psychological health (Lawrence et al., 2019). Positive interactions with a romantic partner can buffer against stress, promote positive emotions, and enhance overall life satisfaction. Resilience refers to the ability to adapt and bounce back from adversity. In romantic partnerships, a supportive and secure relationship provides a crucial source of resilience in that partners who feel supported and understood during challenging times are better equipped to cope with stressors and setbacks (Rajaei et al., 2020). They can rely on their partners for emotional support, problem-solving, and encouragement, which helps them navigate difficult circumstances more effectively (Gottman, 2014).
Research interest in exploring the influence of PCEs on the quality and resilience of adult relationships has been growing in recent years. While specific studies focusing explicitly on the influence of PCEs on adult romantic relationships have not yet been done, research within related fields such as attachment theory, developmental psychology, and relationship science provides insights into this topic. Longitudinal studies have demonstrated that individuals who experienced supportive and nurturing environments during childhood are more likely to form secure attachments and have healthier relationship dynamics in adulthood that make them better equipped to navigate conflicts, express emotions openly, provide support to their partners, and contribute to the overall quality and resilience of their romantic relationships. Attachment theory, rooted in the research and literature of Bowlby and Ainsworth, provides an understanding of how PCEs lay a psychosocial foundation that promotes secure attachments, emotional regulation, and healthy relational skills, that are later echoed in adult romantic partnerships (Ainsworth et al., 1978; Bowlby, 1980).
PCEs, such as witnessing healthy communication patterns between parents, may contribute to the development of effective communication skills in adulthood, which are crucial for maintaining satisfying romantic relationships. Children who grow up in supportive environments learn effective communication, empathy, and conflict resolution skills, which are essential for building and sustaining healthy romantic relationships. These interpersonal skills contribute to greater relationship satisfaction, intimacy, and resilience in adulthood. Overall, research suggests that PCEs have a significant influence on the quality and resilience of adult relationships and understanding the impact of early experiences on relationship outcomes can inform interventions and programs aimed at promoting healthy relationship development and preventing relationship problems later in life. While existing research suggests that PCEs are likely related to RQ in romantic couples, the research question remains: Do individuals with more PCEs rate higher levels of relationship satisfaction in their romantic relationships?
Positive Childhood Experiences
When couples enter relationships, the individual partners are not blank slates and their personal histories have an impact on the health and quality of the relationship (Bethell et al., 2019; Black & Schutte, 2006). The relational functioning and patterns seen in adult relationships are impacted not only by adverse experiences, but also by positive and enriching experiences and supports (Black & Schutte, 2006). As there are two sides to every coin, when looking at the adversity and struggles couples faced in childhood it is imperative also to consider resources and the countervailing power of counter-adverse childhood experiences (counter-ACEs) (Merrick et al., 2020). The CDC has begun to turn its focus towards the essential nature of secure, stable, nurturing relationships and the simple yet profound lesson they have found is that health outcomes from positive experiences may be just as important as toxic outcomes from adverse experiences.
While specific lists may vary slightly, here are ten examples of PCEs commonly identified in research (Bethell et al., 2019; Narayan et al., 2018): Supportive Relationships: Having caring and supportive relationships with parents, caregivers, siblings, extended family members, or other significant adults; Emotional Nurturance: Receiving emotional support, validation, and encouragement from caregivers during times of need or distress; Stability and Consistency: Growing up in a stable and predictable environment with consistent routines, expectations, and boundaries; Safe and Secure Environment: Feeling physically and emotionally safe and secure within the home environment, free from abuse, neglect, or exposure to violence; Positive Reinforcement: Receiving praise, recognition, and positive reinforcement for efforts, achievements, and good behavior; Opportunities for Learning and Growth: Having access to educational opportunities, extracurricular activities, and resources that support personal and intellectual development; Encouragement of Exploration and Independence: Being encouraged to explore, try new things, and develop autonomy and independence; Affection and Warmth: Experiencing affection, warmth, and expressions of love from caregivers and family members; Sense of Belonging: Feeling a sense of belonging, acceptance, and inclusion within the family, school, and community; and Positive Role Models and Mentors: Having positive role models, mentors, or supportive adults who provide guidance, inspiration, and encouragement.
Much like the ACES research, studies have also demonstrated that PCEs may have lifelong consequences for relational health despite co-occurring adversities such as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) (Bethell et al., 2019). PCEs are common and have been seen in numerous studies around the world to serve a potential buffering effect against exposure to ACEs to promote flourishing in adulthood (Yu et al., 2022). Both ACEs and PCEs affect family health in adulthood, in particular PCEs appear to be relevant to future family health, with studies demonstrating how extensiveness of PCEs in the home, community, and school may have a noteworthy impact on future family life, even in the presence of ACES (Daines et al., 2021). Raghunathan et al. (2024) in a scoping review of studies that examined and measured PCEs found that the most common validated measure used to assess PCEs is the BCE scale, and that majority of those studies have looked at relationship of PCEs to behavioral, physical, mental health outcomes, and not examined how PCEs relate to RQ in romantic couples. Childhood experiences have been seen to influence emotion regulation, the types of coping strategies adults utilize in their relationships, and problem-focused or avoidant emotion-focused coping strategies that may have served the individual well to meet needs in childhood are problematic later in adulthood when couples are needing to resolve problems (Sheffler et al., 2019).
Relationship Quality
Studying RQ is important because social epidemiologists have found that healthy and loving relationships result in greater health, wealth, resilience, faster recovery from illness, and greater longevity thus pointing to the amazing magic that is love (Gottman, 2014). Just being in a relationship alone does not necessarily improve and lengthen life, it is more about the quality of the relationship (Gottman, 2014; Lawrence et al., 2019). Compared to partners who reported being very happily married, those who reported not being very happy in marriage were over twice as likely to report worse health and almost 40% more likely to die over the follow-up period, and those not too happy in marriage also had equal or worse health and mortality risk compared to those who were never married, divorced or separated, or widowed (Lawrence et al., 2019). The question turns to what makes the difference between happy and unhappy couples.
When couples have mutual trust, intimacy, have built commitment and loyalty, and physiological calmness the magic of love comes in and they have the dynamic of healthy relationships (Gottman, 2014). Partner evaluations of the relationship also are seen to influence one another over time with reciprocity of attraction in that partners who perceive to be liked are inclined to like their partner more and vice versa (Eastwick et al., 2019). How partners evaluate their childhood experiences also relates to their capacity for feeling secure, comfortable, able to connect with their partner (Bethell et al., 2019; Black & Schutte, 2006). The components that create a lasting, loving, healthy, and satisfying relationship have been well studied in the field of Marital and Family Therapy. Some research has boiled these components down to core aspects that can be measured and used to assess and attempt to prevent negative outcomes in couples (Hassebrauck & Fehr, 2002). Theories examining RQ suggest that partners seek out companionship, help, affection, intimacy, and emotional security (Gómez-López et al., 2019). While debated and subjective in definition, it seems to be agreed by many that core concepts that comprise the make-up of quality relationships include satisfaction, commitment, intimacy, trust, passion, and love (Fletcher et al., 2000).
Healthy relationships are vital to mental and physical health, impact functioning in all areas of life, and there is an abundance of research on the core skills or components needed for healthy romantic relationships (Waldinger, 2015). Empathy and the ability to put aside one's own point of view to take the other partner's perspective has been seen to influence relationship satisfaction and childhood experiences that enhance one's ability to do perspective taking has an impact on the maintenance and survival or longevity of romantic relationships (Davis & Oathout, 1987). PCEs seem to allow increased capacity for intimacy, security, respect, a sense of being valued, and good communication which are core ingredients for a healthy relationship (Hou et al., 2022); while failing relationships are riddled with poor support, lack of communication or understanding, contempt, criticism, and conflict (Hassebrauck & Fehr, 2002). Davila et al. studied romantic competence and ability to utilize insight, mutuality, and emotion regulation in relationships and shared how these core skills help partners to seek and provide support to one another when facing obstacles and stressors that couples inevitably face with greater security, better decision making, greater satisfaction, and less internalizing symptoms.
The intersection of PCEs and romantic relationships is deeply influenced by cultural, socioeconomic, and individual factors. In collectivist cultures such as Japan, China, and Korea, familial harmony and intergenerational connections strongly influence romantic relationships, and PCEs in these societies often include a sense of familial duty and respect for elders, which shapes adult expectations for mutual support in relationships (Yu et al., 2022). Recent research also indicates that children from highly structured or hierarchical family systems may struggle with emotional expressiveness and vulnerability due to the persistent stigma on talking about emotions and mental health in Chinese culture, which can lead to emotional distance in romantic relationships (Yu et al., 2022). Emerging research on indigenous populations adds another layer of complexity to the conceptualization of PCEs and romantic relationships. Among indigenous populations, PCEs often involve community-based caregiving where children are raised not only by parents but also by extended family members and the larger community and PCEs reflect having a deep sense of relational responsibility and long-term commitment. PCEs in these communities, such as strong cultural identity and community belonging, are associated with resilience in romantic relationships.
Recent research also points to gender and socioeconomic factors as critical influences on the relationship between PCEs and romantic relationships. Some research finds that women may be more vulnerable to the impact of ACEs on romantic relationships, as they are inclined to internalize emotional stress and place higher importance on relational dynamics. Men, in contrast, have been found to externalize distress, leading to avoidant attachment styles and patterns of emotional withdrawal or avoidance in romantic settings making it harder for couples to resolve conflicts or achieve deeper emotional intimacy. Socioeconomic status moderates the influence of PCEs on romantic relationships. For example, individuals from lower SES backgrounds tend to experience greater relational stress, as economic hardships can compound the effects of ACEs leading to higher rates of relationship dissolution or chronic relational conflict. However, PCEs like emotional warmth and stability in childhood can serve as buffers against these external stressors, allowing for healthier relationship outcomes even in the face of financial struggles.
The literature on the impact of childhood experiences on adult romantic relationships has largely focused on ACEs, consistently demonstrating the negative effects of trauma on relational health, emotional regulation, and attachment patterns in adulthood. While this research has provided valuable insights into how negative experiences shape adult relational dynamics, far less attention has been given to the potential benefits of PCEs on adult RQ. Studies on resilience suggest that positive early-life experiences, such as supportive relationships and emotional nurturance, can foster resilience and contribute to better relational outcomes in adulthood (Bethell et al., 2019). These findings indicate that PCEs may play a crucial role in promoting emotional well-being and relationship satisfaction, but empirical research specifically examining this correlation in the context of romantic relationships remains limited.
Although prior studies have explored the broader implications of PCEs for mental health and resilience, few have examined their direct relationship with adult romantic RQ. By shifting the focus from the deficits of childhood adversity to the strengths fostered by positive early experiences, this study aims to test whether individuals reporting more PCEs also report higher satisfaction and intimacy in their romantic partnerships. This focus contributes to resilience research and informs therapeutic approaches that emphasize strengths-based development.
Methods
Research Question and Hypothesis
The research question that guided the proposed study was, “How are PCES and relationship quality related in romantic relationships?” In this study, we sought to test the following hypothesis:
A higher level of PCES will be associated with greater romantic RQ.
Study Design
The research adopted a cross-sectional correlational design to examine the relationship between BCE and RQ in romantic couples. This allowed for the assessment of the strength and direction of the correlation without manipulating variables. A quantitative approach was chosen to collect numerical data for statistical analysis (Creswell & Creswell, 2017). A cross-sectional design was appropriate for this exploratory pilot study to establish preliminary associations between PCEs and RQ prior to conducting longitudinal or intervention research.
Participants
The sample comprised English-speaking adults aged 32–45 living in the united states who were in committed romantic relationships, including married, cohabiting, and long-term dating couples. This age range was chosen to capture adults in a developmental stage characterized by greater relational stability and maturity. Individuals who were single, outside the target age range, or unable to complete the survey independently were excluded. A priori power analysis using G*Power (v. 3.9.7.1) indicated a minimum of 67 participants was needed to detect a medium effect (r = .30) with 80% power at α = .05. The final sample included 197 participants after excluding incomplete responses and potential bots.
Recruitment Methods
Participants were recruited through the CloudResearch Connect platform. The BCE and RAS surveys were administered via Qualtrics, accompanied by a study description and compensation details. Each participant received $2.50 upon completion, paid through CloudResearch within seven days.
Measures
Participants were invited to complete an online survey that included the BCE scale and the RAS. Clear instructions and demographic questions preceded the main scales.
Benevolent Childhood Experiences
The primary independent variable, BCE, was measured using a validated self-report scale adapted from Narayan et al. (2018). The scale assesses positive and supportive experiences during childhood, encompassing aspects such as emotional warmth, encouragement, and affirmation. The BCE scale is an instrument to measure PCEs before the age of 18 (Merrick et al., 2020; Narayan et al., 2018). It consists of 10 yes/no items measuring perceived safety and security with presence of beliefs that gave comfort, at least one good friend, positive and predictive quality of life, enjoyment of school, regular meals and bedtime, and external support with a teacher or neighbor who cared. Two examples of items include: When you were growing up, during your first 18 years of life… Did you have at least one caregiver with whom you felt safe? Did you have at least one good friend? The total score ranges between 0 and 10, with a higher score indicating more PCEs. Psychometrically, the BCE scale has shown excellent internal consistency, test–retest reliability, inter-rater reliability, construct validity, convergent validity, and despite being relatively new, studies have found that individuals with higher scores on the BCE scale are more likely to demonstrate resilience in the face of adversity, supporting its predictive validity (Merrick et al., 2020; Narayan et al., 2018). Reliability estimates in prior studies range from α = .70 to .86, with strong test–retest correlations over four weeks (Narayan et al., 2018).
Relationship Quality
The dependent variable, RQ, was assessed using the RAS (Hendrick, 1988). This scale captures individuals’ subjective evaluation of their romantic relationship, covering dimensions such as satisfaction, intimacy, and communication and has demonstrated sound reliability, validity, efficiency with being a brief measure, and is more inclusive to romantic relationships where the couple may or may not be married or cohabitating (Renshaw et al., 2011; Vaughn & Matyastik, 1999). The following are some examples of sentences from RAS: How well does your partner meet your needs; In general, how satisfied are you with your relationship? The RAS has shown strong construct validity correlating well with other established measures of RQ, such as the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) and the Marital Adjustment Test (MAT), supporting its role in assessing relationship satisfaction, and the RAS has demonstrated predictive validity by being able to predict relationship outcomes, such as relationship dissolution, relationship longevity, and changes in satisfaction over time (Hendrick, 1988). The RAS consists of seven items rated on a 5-point Likert scale and demonstrates high internal consistency (α ≈ .86) and strong test–retest reliability (Hendrick, 1988).
Procedures
Participants provided informed consent on the first page of the Qualtrics survey and then completed demographic questions, the BCE Scale, and the RAS. If consent was declined, the survey automatically closed. Upon completion, participants entered a code in CloudResearch Connect and were paid $2.50 through the platform within seven days.
Data Analysis
Analyses were conducted in SPSS. Descriptive statistics summarized demographic data. Pearson's correlation coefficients tested the hypothesis that individuals with higher BCE scores would report greater relationship satisfaction. Both the BCE and RAS scales have demonstrated robust psychometric properties in previous research, ensuring reliable interpretation of the observed associations.
Ethical Considerations
The study adhered to ethical guidelines, ensured participant confidentiality, informed consent, and voluntary participation. CloudResearch employed several measures to maintain the confidentiality of participants in research studies including data encryption, secure data storage, restricted access, and personal identifying information such as names or email addresses or other contact details were separated from survey responses so that participants had assigned unique identifiers to ensure that their responses remained anonymous (Hartman et al., 2023). Approval was obtained from the institutional review board (IRB) before data collection. Diversity and inclusivity factors were considered in the creation of the pilot study and in choosing the measures that were used. The BCE scale was specifically developed by multilingual psychologists that drew from their clinical experiences with foreign-born, multicultural families to generate 10 items believed to be multi-culturally sensitive and has been translated to correspond to a third-grade reading level with the intention of measuring elements of PCEs that were neither linked to or a proxy for higher socioeconomic status (Narayan et al., 2018). Unlike some other measures for RQ that only include same sex married couples, the RAS was chosen because it is applicable for couples who are cohabitating, dating couples, and same sex couples (Hendrick, 1988).
Results
Descriptive Statistics
The final sample (N = 197) consisted of adults aged 32–45 years. Approximately half of the participants identified as male (50.3%) and half as female (49.2%). Most participants identified as White or Caucasian (67.5%), followed by Asian (9.1%), Multiracial (8.6%), African American (7.6%), and Hispanic or Latino/Latina (6.1%). The majority (60.9%) had been with their partners for more than five years, and nearly 80% were cohabiting or married (20.8% cohabiting, 59.4% married). These demographics suggest a relatively stable, relationally experienced sample of adults in long-term romantic relationships.
Correlation Between PCEs and RQ
A simple linear regression with BCE total scores predicting RAS total scores indicated a significant positive association, F(1, 187) = 7.27, p = .008, R² = .037, β = .193. Higher levels of PCEs were associated with higher levels of relationship satisfaction (Table 1).
Pearson Correlation Table.
Note. Correlation is significant at the **0.01 level (2-tailed).
Discussion
This study examined the relationship between PCEs and adult romantic RQ among adults aged 32 to 45 in committed relationships. Results revealed a significant positive association between PCEs and RQ, suggesting that individuals who reported more supportive and nurturing experiences in childhood also described higher levels of satisfaction and communication in their adult partnerships. These findings align with prior research demonstrating that early positive relationships contribute to the development of secure attachment, emotional regulation, and relational competence (Bethell et al., 2019; Narayan et al., 2018).
The current results extend existing literature by focusing on positive experiences rather than adversity. While much of the previous work has emphasized the long-term effects of ACEs, this study supports a complementary narrative—one that highlights the protective and formative role of positive early relationships. The presence of stable caregiving, emotional warmth, and consistent support appears to strengthen individuals’ ability to form and sustain satisfying romantic relationships later in life. In this sample, higher scores on the BCE scale predicted higher scores on the RAS, indicating that early experiences of safety and connection may continue to shape adult intimacy and trust.
These findings add empirical support to a resilience-based framework by showing that positive childhood contexts help build capacities that promote relationship satisfaction. However, since the study did not directly measure resilience, the results are best understood as indicating that PCEs foster higher-quality relationships, not necessarily greater “relationship resilience.” Future studies that include measures of coping and adaptive functioning could further clarify this pathway.
The results are consistent with prior studies showing that positive caregiving environments enhance emotional regulation, empathy, and effective communication, skills essential to maintaining fulfilling partnerships (Black & Schutte, 2006). The small-to-medium effect size observed here is typical in relationship research, where multiple psychological, social, and contextual factors interact. Nevertheless, even modest associations between positive early experiences and adult RQ highlight the importance of assessing both protective and risk factors in clinical settings.
Overall, this study contributes to a growing understanding of how formative relationships and nurturing experiences shape adult relational well-being. The findings suggest that clinicians, educators, and policymakers can benefit from emphasizing early relational health and integrating PCE-informed perspectives in prevention and intervention efforts.
Clinical Implications
This study's results hold considerable implications for clinical practice, particularly in the fields of couple and family therapy. First, the results suggest that understanding a client's early life experiences, including PCEs, can provide important context for current relationship dynamics. This viewpoint allows therapists to not only address trauma and adverse experiences but also to accentuate the protective and resilience-building aspects of a client's childhood (Bethell et al., 2019). By acknowledging and reinforcing the positive aspects of a client's early life, therapists can help clients build upon these strengths to improve RQ, communication, and intimacy in their adult partnerships.
Emotionally focused therapy and other attachment-based approaches that prioritize the consideration of early attachment patterns may benefit from incorporating assessments of PCEs to identify factors that foster resilience in couples. For example, therapists could explore how BCE have influenced a client's ability to form secure emotional bonds and regulate emotions during times of stress. These insights can inform targeted interventions aimed at improving relational security and satisfaction (Black & Schutte, 2006).
In addition, this study highlights the potential value of preventative interventions that focus on fostering PCEs during childhood. By promoting supportive relationships and emotional nurturance in family and community settings, educators, policymakers, and clinicians can contribute to improved relational outcomes for future generations. Early interventions that emphasize the significance of positive parenting and stable environments may help reduce the risk of relational difficulties in adulthood (Narayan et al., 2018).
Overall, the study highlights the importance of a strengths-based approach in couples’ therapy and assessment, one that not only attends to past trauma but also leverages the protective effects of PCEs to strengthen relationship resilience. By integrating PCEs into therapeutic assessments and interventions, therapists can help couples build healthier, more satisfying relationships that are rooted in both emotional resilience and advantageous early-life experiences.
Limitations and Suggestions for Future Research
Several limitations, such as self-report biases and the cross-sectional nature of the study, should be considered. Additionally, the generalizability of findings may be limited by using convenience sampling. The correlation design of the study does not imply causality and cannot draw a conclusion that the amount of PCEs causes changes in RQ, only if there is a significant relationship between those variables. Much like the ACEs measure, there are several limitations to the simple summative approach used in the BCE scale including the unlikely assumptions that each childhood experience is equally important for outcomes, that everyone with the same BCE score will receive the same benefit from an intervention regardless of what those childhood experiences were, and associations between BCE scores and RQ might be driven by the effect of one or a sub-set of childhood experiences.
Soley focusing on PCEs in relation to RQ is limited as other extraneous variables that may impact RQ like strong social support and positive experiences in adulthood are not measured and considered in this study. The study found that BCE are statistically related to relationship satisfaction in adulthood, but the effect is relatively small. Specifically, BCE accounts for 3.7% of the variability in how satisfied people are with their relationships. While this is statistically significant, in the context of relationship research, this is smaller than the influence of some other variables frequently studied in relation to RQ such as attachment styles, communication patterns (Bradbury & Bodenmann, 2020), conflict resolution, personality traits, and ACEs. Even though the effect size of BCE on relationship satisfaction is relatively small, this doesn’t mean BCE is unimportant. Even small effects can be meaningful in the context of complex human behaviors like romantic relationships, where many different factors interact. Additionally, PCEs can serve as protective factors, potentially buffering against the negative impact of adverse experiences (Yu et al., 2022). Therefore, while having a positive childhood can promote resilience and be advantageous to partnerships, it is just one piece of a bigger puzzle when it comes to adult romantic relationships.
To mitigate the limitations in the proposed study it may be suggested for future research to consider the following strategies: addressing self-report biases, using a longitudinal study design, diversifying sampling techniques, utilize a more comprehensive assessment, and refine the measurement. Future research may benefit from using multiple methods of data collection beyond self-report, such as partner reports or observational measures, to triangulate findings and reduce bias. Conducting longitudinal research would allow for the examination of potential mediators and moderators of the relationship between PCEs and RQ and to track changes in the long-term effects of PCEs on relationship outcomes over time (Waldinger, 2015). Future studies with more diverse sampling techniques like stratified sampling or random sampling could enhance the generalizability of findings beyond convenience samples and ensuring the inclusion of participants from diverse demographic backgrounds could capture a broader range of experiences.
Expanding the scope of the study to include measures of additional variables that may influence RQ such as social support, attachment style, personality traits, or current life stressors would allow for the examining of potential interactions or moderating effects of these variables on the relationship between PCEs and RQ. It may also be suggested that future research develops more nuanced measures of PCEs that go beyond a simple summative approach, considering the differential impact of specific experiences. By implementing these strategies, future research can overcome the limitations mentioned and provide a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between PCEs and RQ.
In conclusion, this study reinforces the idea that PCEs play a significant role in shaping the quality of adult romantic relationships, providing a foundation for further research and clinical applications focused on enhancing relationship satisfaction and emotional resilience.
Conclusion
This pilot study sheds light on the significant relationship between PCEs and adult romantic RQ, supporting the hypothesis that individuals who experience supportive, nurturing environments in childhood are predicted to have satisfying and resilient romantic relationships in adulthood. The findings highlight the significance of exploring and considering early life experiences not just from a deficit-based trauma lens but also from a resilience-building perspective. The statistically significant correlation between PCEs and RQ highlights that PCEs, such as emotional warmth, security, supportive relationships, opportunities for learning and growth, stability and consistency, contribute to the development of emotional regulation, communication skills, and attachment security that are crucial for relational health.
Although the effect size was small to medium, this study highlights the importance of considering PCEs as one of the multiple factors influencing RQ. Future research should aim to further investigate this relationship through longitudinal studies and with a more diverse sample to better understand how early positive experiences affect relational dynamics over time. Expanding this research could shape therapeutic interventions, guiding therapists to integrate an understanding of PCEs into their work with couples to promote resilient relationships.
Ultimately, this study contributes to a growing body of research focused on resilience, accentuating the role of PCEs in fostering well-being and relational success. By shifting the focus from ACEs to the protective factors of PCEs, this research offers a fresh viewpoint on the long-lasting benefits of supportive childhood environments for adult relational health. The findings not only advance academic understanding but also offer practical implications for therapists and policymakers in promoting positive relational outcomes for future generations.
Footnotes
Ethics Approval
This research is approved by the ethics committee of the University of Alicante (UA-2023-06-20_4).
Funding
The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Declaration of Conflicting Interests
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.