Abstract
ObjectiveTo examine how constructiveness in interparental conflict affects mothers' perception of children's psychological and physical health and whether coparenting and positive parenting mediate these effects.BackgroundChildren exposed to high levels of interparental conflict are at elevated risk of developing health problems. However, previous research suggests that constructive and destructive interparental conflict may affect children's health differently.MethodMothers (n = 289) with at least one child aged 3.5 to 8 years completed an online survey about parenting, coparenting, interparental conflict, and different aspects of child health.ResultsResults suggest that higher constructiveness in interparental conflict is related to fewer emotional problems, less pain, and fewer infectious diseases in children, independent of gender. The effects were fully mediated by coparenting.ConclusionConstructive interparental conflict promotes children's physical and psychological health and coparenting emerged as an important mechanism for this link.ImplicationsEnhancement of constructive interparental conflict and coparenting are promising avenues to foster children's healthy development.
Highlights
MethodsParents (mothers or fathers) with at least one child aged 3.5 to 8 years were invited to take part in an online survey
We examine the relation between constructive interparental conflict and children’s psychological and physical health, as well as the role of coparenting and positive parenting as potential mediators
Child age was positively associated with positive parenting and child pain symptoms
Summary
Parents (mothers or fathers) with at least one child aged 3.5 to 8 years were invited to take part in an online survey. Participants were recruited through advertisements and flyers distributed in local community centers and via posting the survey link on German Internet platforms addressed to parents and families. At the start of the survey, participants were informed about the study and gave informed consent. Duration of the online survey was approximately 20 to 30 minutes. At the end of the survey, participants indicated whether they had answered the questions seriously; participants who stated they had not were excluded from the final analysis (n = 30). All participants had the possibility to win one of ten 10 € vouchers and to receive an information letter per e-mail describing the main results of the study
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