Effects of Marital Quality on Children in Brazilian Families

Abstract

There is substantial research on the relationship between marital satisfaction and its effect on child development, with empirical evidence suggesting that marital conflict and dissatisfaction among the parents is predictive of poorer child outcomes. These findings are consistent with systems theory, which suggests that dynamics in one subsystem have an effect on other systems in the family. However, there is little known about how these variables apply to the Latino population. With Latinos now comprising the largest minority population, it is important to understand the effect of marital distress on child outcomes in Latino families. Data for the study come from a larger longitudinal study of 126 families living in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Each family had a child ranging in age from 3 to 5 years old. Results from multiple regression analyses indicated that mother's (but not fathers') reports of marital conflict were associated with behavioral child outcomes. Positive marital interactions were not predictive of behavioral outcomes. These results extend the current literature on the impact of marital conflict on child outcomes to the Brazilian culture.