Longitudinal Associations Among Marital Conflict, Co-Parenting, and Children's Internalizing and Externalizing Problem Behaviors

Abstract

Objectives The present study examined the longitudinal associations between mothers’ and fathers’ perceptions of marital conflict and children’s internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors. In particular, the study explored the mediating roles of mothers’ and fathers’ positive co-parenting and co-parenting conflict in these links. Methods This study analyzed the data of 2,150 children (M age = 4 years at T1) and their parents from the panel study on Korean children. A path analysis was conducted to investigate the links among the study variables. Results Mothers’ and fathers’ perceptions of marital conflict were directly associated with children’s subsequent externalizing problem behavior. Mothers’ and fathers’ perceptions of marital conflict were also directly related to their own and partners’ positive co-parenting and co-parenting conflict at a later time point. Mothers’ positive co-parenting and co-parenting conflict predicted children’s subsequent internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors. Moreover, mothers’ positive co-parenting and coparenting conflict were mediators in the relations between mothers’ and fathers’ perceptions of marital conflict and children’s internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors. Conclusion The present results enhance our understanding of the underlying mechanisms that explain the longitudinal links between marital conflict and children’s internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors. Keywords: arital conflict, co-parenting, internalizing problem behavior, externalizing problem behavior, children