Family Relationships and the Psychosocial Adjustment of School-Aged Children in Intact Families

Abstract

ABSTRACT The authors investigated whether the quality of three family relationships (i.e., marital, parent–child, sibling) in intact families are associated with each other and with children's psychosocial adjustment. Data were collected by means of maternal and child reports (N = 88) using standardized instruments (i.e., Marital Satisfaction Scale, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire). The findings confirm associations between the marital and the parent–child relationship, and between the parent–child and the sibling relationship. Further, both father–child relationships and sibling relationships predict children's adjustment. Father–child conflicts contribute to children's problem behavior, while father–child acceptance and sibling affection contribute significantly to children's general self-esteem. However, contrary to previous studies no support was found for the association between marital relationship and sibling relationship, or for that between marital relationship quality and children's adjustment.