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This paper reviews the links between distressed couple relationships and adult and child mental health issues. It shows that the quality of couple relationships has an effect on a range of public health concerns that health visitors are involved with. It is implicated in adult and child mental health, in physical health, and in the attachment status of children. This paper reviews research evidence which suggests that focusing on the couple relationship can give greater benefits than focusing on parenting alone. The more couples that can manage their conflicts in a cooperative way, the better the outcomes for their children. It offers pointers for practice on the basis that health visitors are ideally placed to work with families through ‘thinking couple’ as well as ‘thinking parent’.
David Hewison (Tue,) studied this question.