Family conflict in divorced and non-divorced families: Potential consequences for boys’ friendship status and friendship quality

Abstract

This study examined associations between family conflict and the quality of boys’ friendships in divorced and non-divorced families. Interviews and self-report measures were completed by 173 boys (Mage = 8.10; 92 Caucasian, 65 African American) and their parents from divorced and non-divorced families. Findings indicated that boys from divorced families had fewer friends, and lower quality friendships, than boys from non-divorced families. Marital conflict was associated with low levels of reasoning in mother-son and sibling-brother relationships in non-divorced families, and low levels of reasoning in father-son relationships in divorced families. Family conflict-resolution strategies mediated connections between marital conflict and the number of boys’ mutual friendships as well as boys’ friendship quality.