Understanding heterogeneity in pathways between interparental conflict and children's involvement: The moderating role of affect-biased attention.

Abstract

The study examined the moderating role of children's affect-biased attention to angry, fearful, and sad adult faces in the link between interparental conflict and children's distinct forms of involvement. Participants included 243 preschool children (Mage =4.60 years, 56% female) and their parents from racially (48% African American, 43% White) and socioeconomically (median annual household income=$36,000) diverse backgrounds. Data collection took place in the Northeastern United States (2010-2014). Utilizing a multi-method, multi-informant, longitudinal design, attention away from anger selectively amplified the link between interparental conflict and children's subsequent coercive involvement (β=-.15). Greater attention to fear potentiated the pathway between interparental conflict and children's later cautious (β=.14) and caregiving involvement (β=.15). Findings are interpreted in the context of environmental sensitivity models.