Our research focuses on contemporary factors shaping intimate and family relationships, as well as the intergenerational transmission of adversity. We are particularly interested in parenting experiences, resilience, relationship dynamics, and the influence of emerging technologies on close relationships.
Research
Adversity among fathers and intergenerational transmission: This work seeks to understand how fathers who experienced adversity in childhood navigate parenthood and attempt to interrupt its intergenerational transmission. It focuses in particular on resilience trajectories and the individual, relational, and contextual factors that may support this process.
Coparenting and family functioning: This work examines coparenting as a relational process at the core of family functioning. It aims to better understand the links between coparenting quality, parental mental health, parenting practices, and child adjustment, as well as the factors that may support positive coparenting.
AI and intimate relationships: This work aims to understand how artificial intelligence is becoming integrated into intimate relationships, particularly when it mediates communication, support, or conflict resolution between partners. We examine the characteristics of individuals who use AI in these ways, as well as its potential implications for relationship functioning and well-being.
Digital technologies and family relationships: This work examines how digital technologies are transforming family relationships. We study parents’ screen use, the sharing of information about children on social media (sharenting), and their associations with relationship quality, attachment, and the well-being of family members.
Publications
- Deneault, A.-A., Tarraf, A., Bordeleau, C., Gariépy, M., Myre, G., Gagné, A., Beaulieu, L., & Racine, N. (2026). How fathers seek to break the intergenerational transmission of ACEs: A qualitative study of Canadian fathers. Child Protection and Practice, 8, 100291. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chipro.2026.100291
- Deneault, A.-A., Madigan, S., Beischel, W., Racine, N., Djordjevic, M., MacIsaac-Jones, M., Le, M., Thiemann, R., Salama, H, Lunney, C., & Neville, R. (2026). Prevalence and correlates of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in LGBTQ+ populations: A narrative review and meta-analysis. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248380251411260
- Beaulieu, L., Gathier, A., Gariépy, M., Cardenas Mesa, D., de la Sablonnière, D., Racine, N., & Deneault, A.-A. (2026). Adverse childhood experiences and mental health in emerging adults: The role of protective factors. Child Protection & Practice, 10, 100326. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chipro.2026.100326
- Thiemann, R., Deneault, A.-A., Fearon, P., Jenkins, J., Salama, H., Exner-Cortens, D., Hodgins, D., & Madigan, S. (2026). How socioeconomic status mediates the association between adverse childhood experiences and depression: A meta-analytic structural equation modelling approach. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248380261467475
- Deneault, A.-A., Laquerre, D., Beaulieu, L., Myre, G., Racine, N., & Madigan, S. (2025). Prevalence and correlates of adverse childhood experiences in fathers: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Child Abuse & Neglect, 169(2), 107651. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107651
- Martini, J., Deneault, A.-A., Zhu, J., Racine, N., Fearon, R. M. P., Madigan, S., & Jenkins, J. (2025). Does intimate partner violence mediate the association between adverse childhood experiences and internalizing symptomatology in women? A mediation meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 389, 119742. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2025.119742
- Madigan, S., Thiemann, R., Deneault, A.-A., Fearon, R. P., Racine, N., Park, J.,Lunney, C. A., Dimitropoulos, G., Jenkins, S., Williamson, T., & Neville, R. D. (2025). Prevalence of adverse childhood experiences in child population samples: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Pediatrics, 179(1), 19-33. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2024.4385
- Zhu, J., Deneault, A.-A., Turgeon, J., & Madigan, S. (2025). Caregiver and child adverse childhood experiences: A meta-analysis. Pediatrics, e2024068578. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2024-068578
- Madigan, S., Deneault, A.-A., Racine, N., Park, J., Thiemann, R., Zhu, J., Dimitropoulos, G., Williamson, T., Fearon, R. M. P., Cénat, J. M., McDonald, S., Devereux, C., & Neville, R. D. (2023). Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs): A meta-analysis of prevalence and moderators among half a million adults in 206 studies. World Psychiatry, 22(3), 463–471. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.21122
- Racine, N., Deneault, A.-A., Thiemann, R., Turgeon, J., Zhu, J., Cooke, J. E., & Madigan, S. (2023). Intergenerational transmission of parent adverse childhood experiences to child outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Child Abuse and Neglect, 106479. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106479
Jihane Mkhatri Master's Département de psychologie 
Mahée Gariépy Ph. D. Département de psychologie 
Milica Djordjevic Master's Département de psychologie 
Ariane Gauthier 
Camille Bordeleau 
Natalie Kirby 
