Parent and Child Adverse Childhood Experiences as Predictors of Relational Uncertainty and Interference from a Partner: Applying the Logic of Relational Turbulence Theory

Applying the logic of relational turbulence theory (RTT), the present study examines how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with long-term parent–child communication and relationship challenges. Parent–adult child dyads (N = 145), in which the parent had either anxiety or depression, independently completed online surveys to test the associations among parent and child ACE scores, relational uncertainty, interference from a partner, negative conflict communication, parentification, and relational turbulence. Parent and child ACE scores were positively correlated. Parent and child ACEs were each positively related to their own relationship uncertainty. Parents’ and children’s relational uncertainty and perceptions of interference shared some of the predicted associations with negative conflict communication, children’s parentification (as reported by children), and relational turbulence. Our research extends RTT to parent-child relationships by identifying ACEs as a distal and prolonged source of relational instability. Furthermore, we add to the literature on ACEs by identifying communication-based mechanisms through which to assess ACE-related intergenerational adversity.