Abstract
This study examined the association between interparental conflict and inhibitory control of Korean children, and it investigated whether this relationship is mediated by the single latent variable of emotional insecurity or by three dimensions of emotional insecurity (i.e., involvement, emotional reactivity, and avoidance). A total of 166 mother–father dyads with Korean children aged 3–5 years participated in a short-term longitudinal survey at two-time points. Both parents completed measures of interparental conflict and emotional insecurity, and, 6 months later, they completed a measure of the inhibitory control of children. The structural equation modeling results suggested that interparental conflict was related to poor inhibitory control in Korean children. Emotional insecurity did not mediate the association between interparental conflict and inhibitory control. Of the three emotional insecurity dimensions, the involvement partially mediated the relationship. Interestingly, although interparental conflict predicted poor inhibitory control, the involvement of children in the conflict, which was associated with a greater interparental conflict, predicted a subsequent increase in inhibitory control 6 months later. These findings were interpreted in terms of sensory processing patterns, the reformulation of emotional security theory, and the influence of Confucianism on Korean culture.
Highlights
IntroductionThe adjustment problems in children (i.e., externalizing and internalizing behaviors) are the most consistent outcomes when emotional security is threatened by interparental conflict (Cummings and Davies, 2010)
The adjustment problems in children are the most consistent outcomes when emotional security is threatened by interparental conflict (Cummings and Davies, 2010)
Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test our three hypotheses: (1) that interparental conflict would predict inhibitory control of children 6 months later, (2) that the latent variable of emotional insecurity would mediate the relationship between interparental conflict and inhibitory control, and (3) that each dimension of emotional insecurity would individually mediate the relationship between interparental conflict and inhibitory control
Summary
The adjustment problems in children (i.e., externalizing and internalizing behaviors) are the most consistent outcomes when emotional security is threatened by interparental conflict (Cummings and Davies, 2010). Inhibitory control, which is a specific aspect of the executive functioning of the cognitive system, is the ability to suppress prepotent and automatic thoughts or actions through internally represented goals (Miller and Cohen, 2001; Diamond, 2013). It prevents developmental maladaptive outcomes by overriding internal tendencies and external stimuli and regulating impulsive desire.
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