Our Past Between Us: A Dyadic Actor–Partner Interdependence Model of Adverse Childhood Experiences, Loneliness, and Couple Adjustment

The spouse subsystem is fundamental building block that determines the emotional functioning of the family system and is considered the most critical subsystem in which interactions between partners are reflected in all family dynamics. This study addresses an important gap in the literature on the transfer of early life experiences to romantic relationships by examining the relationships between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and loneliness and couple adjustment at the dyadic level. Data from 442 heterosexual Turkish couples were analyzed using correlation analysis and the Actor-Partner Interdependence Mediation Model. Findings revealed that as ACE levels increased, loneliness levels rose in both female and male partners, and loneliness was associated with lower ratings of couple adjustment. Dyadic analyses revealed that loneliness plays a mediating role in the relationship between ACEs and couple adjustment, while females' ACEs and loneliness-based emotional processes showed stronger connections with their partners' relationship evaluations. The findings suggest that the relationships between ACEs, loneliness, and couple adjustment should be addressed within a family systems-based framework. Specifically, these results highlight how dyadic processes operate within the collectivist and patriarchal dynamics of the Turkish cultural context. The cross-sectional design of the study, its reliance on self-report measures, and its limited cultural context are among its limitations, and it is suggested that future longitudinal and multi-method studies could strengthen systemic explanations.