A reduced sense of belonging links childhood emotional abuse to unhappier romantic relationships

New research published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences suggests that individuals who experienced psychological abuse in childhood tend to experience lower relationship satisfaction as adults. The findings provide evidence that this decline in romantic happiness happens because these individuals often develop a reduced sense of belonging. The study suggests that addressing this sense of social connection might help heal the long-term relational wounds of early emotional mistreatment.

Past studies have frequently examined the impact of physical and sexual abuse on adult well-being. However, psychological abuse is often overlooked in scientific literature regarding romantic outcomes.

Psychological abuse involves a parent or caregiver repeatedly using attitudes and behaviors that negatively impact a child’s development. This can include constant criticism, emotional manipulation, or intentional humiliation. Since a child’s early bonds shape how they view connections throughout their lives, emotional mistreatment can have profound consequences.

“My interest in this topic was shaped by the idea that early parent-child relationships can leave enduring imprints on how individuals experience closeness and satisfaction in their adult romantic lives,” explained researcher Yakup İme, an associate professor of counseling psychology at Necmettin Erbakan University in Konya, Türkiye.

“Drawing on psychoanalytic perspectives, particularly the object relations framework of Melanie Klein, as well as attachment theory developed by John Bowlby, I was intrigued by how early experiences of psychological abuse might disrupt one’s sense of belonging with a partner,” İme told PsyPost. Psychoanalytic perspectives explore how unconscious thoughts and childhood experiences shape behavior. Attachment theory focuses on how early bonds with caregivers create a blueprint for future relationships.

“These theoretical approaches suggest that internalized relational patterns formed in childhood can influence emotional bonds in adulthood,” İme continued. “This perspective ultimately motivated me to explore belongingness as a key mechanism linking early adversity to later relationship satisfaction.” Belongingness refers to a person’s general feeling of being accepted, valued, and supported by others.

To explore these connections, the researcher designed a longitudinal study. A longitudinal study is a research method that involves observing the same group of individuals repeatedly over a period of time. This approach allows scientists to track changes and establish a better sequence of events.

The sample included 346 young adults attending a university in Türkiye. There were 213 women and 133 men in the group. The participants ranged in age from 20 to 36 years old, with an average age of about 25.

Data collection took place at two distinct time points, separated by a three-month interval. The first phase occurred in February 2025, and the second phase followed in May 2025. Participants completed printed survey forms face-to-face with the scientist.

To ensure privacy while matching the first and second surveys, participants provided pseudonyms. They also shared specific identifiers like the last three digits of their phone numbers and the last few letters of their parents’ names. This allowed the researcher to track individual responses across the two time periods accurately.

The participants completed three specific questionnaires. The first was a 12-item scale that asked individuals to rate how often their parents exhibited abusive behaviors during their childhood. Participants responded on a four-point scale ranging from never to always.

The second measure was a seven-item scale assessing how content the individuals felt in their romantic relationships. Participants rated their satisfaction on a seven-point scale ranging from not at all satisfied to very satisfied. Finally, the participants filled out a 12-item questionnaire measuring feelings of social acceptance and rejection.

The findings suggest a negative relationship between early psychological abuse and adult relationship satisfaction. Individuals who reported higher levels of childhood emotional mistreatment tended to report feeling less satisfied in their romantic relationships. The data provides evidence that this connection is consistent over time.

Additionally, the researcher found that belongingness acts as a mediator in this dynamic. A mediator is a variable that explains the relationship between a starting cause and its ultimate effect. In this case, childhood psychological abuse predicts a lower sense of belonging, which then leads to decreased relationship satisfaction.

“The results did not surprise me; the findings appear consistent with the existing theoretical framework and literature,” İme told PsyPost. “However, the study’s clear demonstration of the long-term effects of early psychological abuse on the sense of belonging and relationship satisfaction in adulthood underscores its importance.”

“This study shows that psychological abuse experienced during childhood can lead individuals to feel less happy and fulfilled in their future romantic relationships,” İme explained. “A key reason for this is the damage done to a person’s sense of ‘belonging’ and being loved at an early age.”

“Individuals who receive sufficient trust and attention during childhood, on the other hand, are better able to build trust in their relationships as adults and tend to be happier,” İme added. “For this reason, it is crucial for parents to raise their children in a loving, safe, and supportive environment. Avoiding all forms of neglect and abuse, especially during childhood, significantly contributes to their ability to form healthy and fulfilling relationships in the future.”

As with all research, there are some limitations to consider. “One important limitation is that the data were collected longitudinally through participants’ self-report questionnaires, which may introduce bias,” İme explained. “In particular, responses could have been influenced by factors such as social desirability or subjective interpretation, potentially affecting the accuracy of the findings.”

The three-month gap between the two survey periods is also relatively short. Tracking these individuals over several years might reveal different patterns regarding how relationship satisfaction evolves. Longer observation periods would offer more detailed information about these psychological changes.

The sample is composed entirely of university students in Türkiye. Cultural norms, family structures, and educational systems in this specific region might influence the results. As a result, these findings might not completely apply to individuals from different cultural backgrounds or age groups.

“My long-term goal is to further examine the mechanisms linking early psychological abuse to adult relationship outcomes by incorporating multi-method approaches (e.g., observational and partner-reported data) to strengthen causal inferences,” İme said. “As a next step, I aim to explore potential protective factors, such as resilience and social support, that may buffer the negative impact of early adverse experiences on belongingness and relationship satisfaction.”

“Ultimately, this line of research could inform the development of targeted interventions to improve relational well-being among individuals with histories of early psychological abuse,” İme concluded. Exploring other variables like self-esteem or interpersonal trust might also help explain how early psychological abuse impacts adult romance.

The study, “How early psychological abuse predicts decreased relationship satisfaction via belongingness in adulthood: A longitudinal study,” was authored by Yakup İme.