Editorial Vol. 13 Issue 1

Abstract

The articles in this issue build our knowledge of the intersection between couples and money by taking us on an evidence-based journey through the beginning (newlyweds and emerging adults) and end (divorce) of a c ouples’ relationship life cycle while giving insight into early childhood experiences (trauma) that might impact financial beliefs, behaviors, and financial transparency in relationships. These articles incorporate several interesting concepts including adverse childhood experiences, attachment styles, early financial discussions, financial conflict, alimony decisions, spenders, and tightwads. Furthermore, the authors do a fine job of incorporating advanced statistical methods (e.g., structural equation modeling, missing data methods, actor-partner interdependence modelling) to test their research questions, thereby demonstrating the scientific rigor within financial therapy research. Last, there are several broad practice implications from this issue: the Past: The Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Adult Attachment, Money Beliefs Behaviors, and Financial Transparency third the notion that financial behaviors and complex deeply rooted in our past experiences. This provides an informative and educational review of attachment styles and adverse childhood experiences that will benefit those less familiar with these areas that are common in the mental health profession. Based on this study’s results, the authors suggest that it is imperative for professionals to take a trauma-informed and trauma-focused perspective with their clients; they note that Narrative Financial Therapy might be effective to assist clients in using story building to process and understand their past money beliefs. The authors gathered primary data from 500 participants through Amazon’s Mechanical Turk crowdsourcing platform and used structural equation modeling with direct and Her research is focused on investigating the antecedents and consequences of maladaptive behaviors in romantic and family relationships. For example, her master’s thesis examined attachment, maladaptive cognitions, and self-esteem as predictors of psychological aggression among couples in the early years of marriage. She is also interested in research on interventions to ameliorate intimate partner and family violence and she has recently developed an interest in family finance. Ed Coambs, is an internationally recognized thought leader and award-winning author in financial therapy. He leads couples through therapy from financial despair and frustration into financial intimacy and connection using the latest in love and brain science. His ideas appear in the Wall Street Journal, the Associated Press, Time, and CNBC. He earned master's degrees in business, counseling, and financial planning. He is a licensed marriage and family therapist, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, and Certified Financial Therapist™. Ed is the founder of HealthyLoveandMoney.com, an organization on a mission to help couples transform their relationship through learning, healing, and growing. He offers social content, books, courses, blogs, and podcasts through this website, all aimed at helping couples and the professionals that serve them understand where their relationship and money challenges come from and how to create financial intimacy in their lives. examines how finances are connected to individuals, couples, and families as well as how constructs such as relational sacrifices are associated with relationship quality for romantic dyads. the Editor-in-Chief