About

The conjugal relationship is often the most significant relationship for the majority of adults. In fact, a satisfying conjugal relationship is one of the most important determinants of happiness and physical and psychological well-being.

However, the birth of a child represents an important developmental stage for many couples, as well as a major life event that can be accompanied by changes in the psychosocial functioning of the parental couple as well each spouse.

Indeed, the arrival of a child can cause significant structural changes, in addition to putting pressure on the couple's emotional and material resources.  

Thus, this project aims to better understand the links between the interactions of parents of young children and their psychological and relational well-being, by also exploring the family history of each parent. Similarly, we aim to gain a better understanding of the influence of relationships between parents on child development.

The results of these studies will provide important information for the development of appropriate educational and preventive programs for individuals, couples and families awaiting the arrival of a child.

The project currently benefits from a Canadian Institutes of Health Research grant and is entitled A longitudinal dyadic investigation of the role of interpersonal trauma and couple relationships on parents' mental health and child adjustment. The research team includes Natacha Godbout (director of TRACE) and Alison Paradis, Ph.D. as lead researchers, and Marie-Eve Daspe, Ph.D., Catherine Herba, Ph.D., and Martine Hébert, Ph.D as co-researches.

Doctoral students who have worked, or are currently working on this project include: Gaëlle Bakhos, Mathilde Baumann, Luciana Lassance, Francis Morissette-Harvey, Camille-Andrée Rassart, and Élise Villeneuve.

This project was initiated after obtaining a grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, and was entitled A systemic study of the well-being of parental couples: Associations with childhood interpersonal trauma. Research team included Natacha Godbout (principal investigator), Sophie Bergeron, Ph.D., Martine Hébert, Ph.D., and Stéphane Sabourin, Ph.D.