Perceptions Of Interparental Conflict Research Articles

The Relation between Perception of Inter-parental Conflict and Subjective Well-being: Moderation of Resilience

The Relation between Perception of Inter-parental Conflict and Subjective Well-being: Moderation of Resilience

The reciprocal relationships between Chinese children's perception of interparental conflict, negative thinking, and depression symptoms: A cross-lagged study.

The present longitudinal study used the traditional cross-lagged panel model (CLPM) and autoregressive latent trajectory model with structured residuals (ALT-SR) to examine the relationships between perceived interparental conflict (IPC), negative thinking (NT), and depression symptoms in Chinese children. Changes in these three variables over time were also examined, as well as the trait and state aspects of the relationships between them. A sample of 516 third-grade primary students completed questionnaires about IPC, NT, and depression three times over a period of 1 year, at 6-month intervals. The CLPM findings indicated that, assuming that stability of each variable across time was controlled, Chinese children’s perception of IPC significantly affected their level of depression through the mediating path of NT. After taking trait factors into account, among all the significant autoregressive and cross-lagged paths originally found in the CLPM, only one third remained significant in the ALT-SR model. More specifically, the ALT-SR model, revealed a driving effect of children’s NT on perceived IPC and depression symptoms. The CLPM model although elucidated the interplay among three variables, the ALT-SR model showed little evidence of their interrelated growth across time. Taken together, these results indicate that children’s perceived IPC in the long term are a stable trait, with few state-level fluctuations, and is not a significant within-person predictor of subsequent children’s internalization problems. These perceptions appear to contribute more to children’s general psychological tendency than do changes over time. The research is the first to test the reciprocal relationships between Chinese children’s perceived IPC, NT, and depression symptoms. The findings demonstrate that previously proposed theories about the bidirectional relation between IPC and children’s social adjustment, to some extent, may reflect a correlation at a trait level. Put another way, it is IPC’s central tendency to be sensitive in the long term as a stable trait that is associated with their children’s general tendency to show well adjustment. The study contributes to our understanding of that extend previous results and have implications for complementary theoretical and practical interventions. The complementary techniques of CLPM and ALT-SR models offer different insights into children’s internalization problems, and hold promise for supporting the building of more comprehensive children’s developmental theories that acknowledge the interconnectedness of different domains of mental health.

Relationship between adolescents’ perception of inter-parental conflict, the feeling of emotional security in their family, and academic achievement

Relationship between adolescents’ perception of inter-parental conflict, the feeling of emotional security in their family, and academic achievement

Interparental Conflict Appraisals and Adolescents’ Maladaptation in Siblings: An Actor-Partner Interdependence Model

The aim of this study was to evaluate dyadic effects among siblings by testing an actor–partner interdependence model of associations between interparental conflict perceptions and children maladjustment. In particular, associations between siblings’ perceptions of interparental conflict properties, threat, and self-blame, and general, personal, school, and social maladjustment and adolescents’ family and sibling dissatisfaction were examined. The hypotheses of the study were analyzed through an Actor-Partner Interdependent Model. The sample was made up of 50 pairs of siblings recruited in Spain; older siblings’ mean age was 13.3 years (SD = 2.51) and younger siblings’ mean age was 10.4 years (SD = 2.33). The results emphasize the association between children’s and adolescents’ perception of interparental conflict and their own maladjustment (actor effect). However, the main novel contribution of this study is the analysis of partner effects for siblings in interparental conflict situations and the results highlight that they are greater for older siblings compared to younger siblings. Also, the results confirm the interdependency of siblings’ perceptions of interparental conflict properties, but also the independency of threat and self-blame feelings experienced by each sibling. Results and limitations of the study are discussed.

Agreement between child and parent reports of children’s reactions to interparental conflict.

Children's perception of interparental conflict is still a relatively unexplored research area. The aim of this study was twofold. First, we wanted to gain more knowledge about the relationship between child and parent reports of children's reactions to interparental conflict across three dimensions: Emotional Reactions, Involvement Reactions, and Avoidance Reactions. Second, we sought to clarify whether disagreement between child and parent reports was related to the interparental conflict severity. The sample consisted of 377 dyads/triads of mothers, fathers, and 11-year-old children (53.2% girls) recruited from the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study. Paired sample t-tests and correlation analyses were used to investigate the absolute and relative agreement between child and both parents' perceptions. Polynomial regression analyses with response surface plots were used to investigate whether absolute agreement between child and mother and father reports, respectively, was related to the interparental conflict severity. Overall, children reported significantly higher levels of Emotional, Involvement, and Avoidance Reactions than did both parents, and the correlations between the reports were low to moderate. The absolute agreement between child and parent reports was related to the severity of interparental conflict for Emotional and Avoidance Reactions in the sense that larger discrepancy was related to less interparental conflict severity. The findings indicate that parents do not fully grasp children's reactions related to interparental conflict. However, contrary to our hypothesis, when interparental conflict was more severe, parents' responses were more similar to children's responses. The importance of acknowledging children's self-reported reactions is discussed along with clinical implications. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Parental Psychological Control: Maternal, Adolescent, and Contextual Predictors.

Parental psychological control (PC) hinders the development of autonomy, identity formation, and the attainment of self-determination and individuation of adolescents. The aim of this study was to deepen the understanding of which conditions increase the risk of the use of maternal PC by simultaneously considering the contribution of adolescent temperament, maternal separation anxiety, and adolescents’ perception of interparental conflict. A correlational study involving a sample of 106 Chilean adolescent-mother dyads was done. Adolescents were, on average, 15.42 years old (SD = 1.09) and 77% male. Mothers were, on average, 45.46 years old (SD = 6.39). We administered self-report questionnaires to the adolescent measuring effortful control and frustration as temperamental dimensions, along with the perception of interparental conflict. Mothers reported on their separation anxiety. Both the adolescents and their mothers reported on the use of maternal PC. Adolescents reported higher levels of maternal PC than their mothers did. All predictors were associated with PC reports. Higher levels of maternal anxiety about adolescent distancing, inter-parental conflict, and adolescent frustration were associated with higher reported levels of PC. In contrast, higher levels of adolescent effortful control were associated with lower levels of maternal PC. Finally, when maternal separation anxiety and inter-parental conflict were high there was a higher use of maternal PC. The present findings inform on how adolescent’s self-regulatory skills could reduce the risk of being exposed to maternal PC. And highlight the importance of using a systemic and interactional conceptualization when trying to understand their use.

The implications of high-conflict divorce on adult–children: Five factors related to well-being

ABSTRACT Offspring of divorce are generally more vulnerable to negative mental health outcomes than counterparts of intact marriages. However, not all cases of divorce are equivalent. The present study aimed to contribute to divorce literature by investigating the role of interparental conflict during the divorce process on offspring well-being. A convenience sample of 144 adult undergraduates from divorced families completed questionnaires pertaining to perceptions of interparental conflict and psychological well-being, interpersonal competence, irrational beliefs, materialistic orientations, and emotion dysregulation. Perceptions of interparental conflict during divorce positively correlated with irrational thinking and emotion dysregulation, and negatively correlated with psychological well-being and interpersonal competence. A MANOVA revealed that participants' perceptions of interparental conflict had significant predictive power on all factors of interest except materialism. In the model, interparental conflict had the greatest effect on emotion dysregulation. Participants with perceptions of high interparental conflict had greater impairments in all variables (except materialism, which was non-significant) compared to the low perception group. They also presented greater impairment in interpersonal competence, emotion regulation, and rational thinking than the medium perception group. Overall, the results suggest interparental conflict during divorce is relevant to offspring outcomes, perhaps particularly within emotion regulation.

Interparental conflict, parent–adolescent attachment, and adolescent Internet addiction: The moderating role of adolescent self-control

We explored the extent to which adolescent self-control moderated the relationships among interparental conflict, parent–adolescent attachment, and adolescent Internet addiction. Participants comprised 459 junior high school students, who completed the Adolescents' Perception of Interparental Conflict Scale, the Self-Control Scale, the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment, and the Internet Addiction Scale. Results show that adolescents' perceptions of interparental conflict was significantly and positively correlated with their Internet addiction. In addition, the relationship between perceived interparental conflict and Internet addiction was mediated by parent–adolescent attachment. Finally, self-control moderated the relationships among interparental conflict, parent–adolescent attachment, and Internet addiction. Policy implications, limitations, and directions for future research are discussed.

Inter Parental Conflict and Its Effect on Adolescent's Behavior in Selected Schools at Minia City

Background: Inter- parental conflict is emphasized in early and middle childhood, continues to play an important role in adolescence behavior Aim of the study: to assess Inter- Parental Conflict and Its Effect on Adolescent's Behavior in selected Schools at Minia City. Research design: A cross-sectional descriptive research design. Sample: Randomly sample by using cluster sample from adolescents (N=500) in Selected Schools at Minia City. Tools of data collection: first toolPersonal and Socio- demographic data, second tool Children's Perception of Inter parental Conflict (CPIC) Scale and third tool Youth Self-Report (YSR) Scale. Results: the majority of the adolescents (95.8%) reported high perception of inter parental conflict, with perceived threat. Also, normal youth self-report, with more internalizing than externalizing behaviors. The Childrens Perception of Inter parental Conflict and Youth Self-Report scores were significant positively moderate correlated reflecting a negative impact of parental conflict Perception on normal behavior. As well Perception of Inter parental Conflict is lower among urban adolescents (boys), The Youth Self-Report tend to be more normal among rural adolescents (girls). Conclusion: Inter-parental conflict has a detrimental effect on the psychological state and well-being of adolescents. Recommendation: Improve community awareness through modern mass media and communication about the effects of Inter-parental conflict on adolescents.

Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia Acts as a Moderator of the Relationship Between Parental Marital Conflict and Adolescents’ Internalizing Problems

The present study examined the potential moderating role respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) plays in the relationship between parental marital conflict and adolescents’ internalizing problems. To examine this issue, data were collected from 330 adolescents (13–14 years, 182 boys). The Chinese version of the Achenbach Youth Self-Report-2001 and the Chinese version of the Children’s Perception of Interparental Conflict were used to assess the adolescents’ internalizing problems and their perceptions of parental marital conflict. To obtain RSA data, electrocardiogram monitoring was performed on the adolescents at baseline and during a series of stress tasks (watching a film clip depicting marital conflict, a mental arithmetic task, and a speech task). The results indicated that baseline RSA and RSA reactivity to the film clip moderated the relationship between parental marital conflict and internalizing problems in early adolescents. The moderating effect of baseline RSA supported the BSCT hypothesis. Specifically, adolescents with low baseline RSA have both the highest and lowest levels of internalizing problems, depending on the level of marital conflict. In contrast, adolescents with high levels of baseline RSA have moderate levels in internalizing problems, regardless of the level of marital conflict they experience. Similarly, high marital conflict was related to internalizing problems for adolescents with less RSA suppression or RSA augmentation but not for those with greater RSA suppression. This effect was specific to stress related to marital conflict, as RSA reactivity to the mental arithmetic task and speech task did not moderate the relationship between marital conflict and internalizing problems. These findings suggest that certain profile of parasympathetic nervous activity is a risk factor for internalizing problems particularly for those who experience high-conflict environments.

Perceived Interparental Conflict and Depressive Symptomatology in Emerging Adults: The Mediating Role of Aggressive Attitudes

ABSTRACTThis cross-sectional study tested the effects of perceived interparental conflict on emerging adults’ depressive symptomatology as mediated by aggressive attitudes. The sample included 520 college students (58.1% females) aged 18–22 years old. Total, direct and indirect effects were calculated through the estimation of an OLS regression-based mediation model, controlling for gender. The results suggest that perceptions of interparental conflict and appraisals of threat and self-blame positively predict depressive symptoms. Also, the results indicate that (1) verbal aggressive attitudes negatively mediate the relationship between interparental conflict properties and depressive symptoms; (2) hostile attitudes positively mediate the association between both threat and self-blame appraisals and depressive symptoms; and (3) anger positively mediates the relationship between both interparental conflict properties and threat appraisal and depressive symptoms. Results are discussed in the context of emerging adults’ mental adjustment and aggression expression when dealing with interparental conflict.

Crossover of parents' work-family conflict to family functioning and child mental health

We investigated potential crossover from mothers' and fathers' work-family conflict to their own and their partner's perception of inter-parental conflict and parenting irritability, and subsequent influences on children's and adolescents' mental health. Using a representative sample of Australian children (N = 3061), an autoregressive model tested four mediation paths for mother-reported child internalizing and externalizing problems (4–5 to 14–15 years), and a second model tested two mediation paths for adolescent-reported problems (8–9 to 14–15 years). Findings indicated that mothers' and fathers' parenting irritability (6–7 years) mediated the association between mothers' work-family conflict (4–5 years) and mother-reported child externalizing problems (8–9 years); and mothers' parenting irritability (12–13 years) mediated the association between fathers' work-family conflict (10–11 years) and mother- and adolescent-reported externalizing problems (14–15 years). Findings demonstrate the potential for work-family conflict to cross over to parenting, thus influencing long-term child mental health.

Family structure, interparental conflict & adolescent symptomatology

ABSTRACT This study analyzes the role of conflict and family structure in developing childreńs internalizing and externalizing symptomatology. The working hypothesis is that the impact on symptomatology is not due to family structure but to adolescents’ perceptions of interparental conflict, the quality of the child-parent relationship, family satisfaction, and maternal symptomatology. Two-hundred and seventy-one Spanish mother-child dyads (adolescents aged between 12 and 16) participated in the study. Firstly, possible differences between intact and divorced families were examined. Secondly, possible internalizing and externalizing symptoms in adolescents were determined as a function of individual, marriage-related, and family-related variables, controlling for family structure. A model based on the cognitive-contextual model (Grych, J. H., & Fincham, F. D. (1990). Marital conflict and children’s adjustment: A cognitive-contextual framework. Psychological Bulletin, 108(2), 267–290.) was tested, showing good fit in both groups, intact and divorced families, and structural invariance; that is, family structure does not moderate child symptomatology when other variables, such as maternal symptomatology and hostile mother-adolescent relationships, are taken into account. The analysis highlights the need to take the following variables into account in family interventions: adolescents’ perceived threat and guilt, hostility in the relations between mothers and adolescents, and maternal symptomatology.

The Effect of the Adolescents’ Perception of Inter-parental Conflict on the Depression and Aggression: Moderating Effects of Self-Compassion

The Effect of the Adolescents’ Perception of Inter-parental Conflict on the Depression and Aggression: Moderating Effects of Self-Compassion

Perception de la menace, sentiment de blâme et symptômes de stress post-traumatique de l’enfant exposé à la violence conjugale

Aim of studyThe aim of this study is to examine the effect of children's exposure to domestic violence on the presence of post-traumatic stress symptoms and to analyze the role of threat perception and feeling of self-blame. We suppose that the more the children and mothers tell us that the domestic violence has been serious and frequent, the more the children will feel guilty for its appearance and will consider it as threatening. We postulate that the children's interpretation of domestic violence, through the perception of threat and self-blame, will lead them to show more post-traumatic stress symptoms when the children perceive a big threat and blame themselves for the violence. Finally, we consider the moderating role of threat perception and feeling of self-blame on the connection between domestic violence and post-traumatic stress symptoms of children. Population and methodsForty-six children (26 girls and 20 boys) aged from 6 to 12 years old, living in shelters in France, were interviewed as well as their mothers, completing different questionnaires. The degree of exposure to domestic violence was assessed by the child using the Children's Perception of Interparental Conflict (CPIC, Grych et al., 1992) and the mother with the Conflict Tactic Scale (Straus et al., 1996). For the threat perception and the feeling of blame, the children completed two CPIC subscales and filled in the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children (Briere, 1989) to analyze the presence of traumatic symptoms (anxiety, depression, anger, post-traumatic stress, dissociation). ResultsOur findings show that the degree of exposure to domestic violence presages threat perception, the feeling of self-blame and the symptom of anxiety. The feeling of self-blame is linked to the child's depression and anger. Finally, the moderating role of threat perception was noticed on the symptoms of anger and dissociation and the feeling of self-blame on the symptom of post-traumatic stress. So, when domestic violence becomes serious and frequent and if the child does not perceive violence as threatening, then the symptom of anger increases. In the same way, when violence gets more important and the child has a low perception of the threat, the dissociation symptom score increases. Finally, when the child feels guilty for the violence, the more the violence is frequent and severe, the less the child shows post-traumatic stress symptoms. ConclusionThe effect of the feelings of self-blame and threat on the presence of post-traumatic stress symptoms must be taken into account in order to help children exposed to domestic violence.

Interparental conflict and adolescent internet addiction: The mediating role of emotional insecurity and the moderating role of big five personality traits

A growing body of research has documented that interparental conflict is associated with adolescent Internet addiction. However, little is known about the mediating and moderating mechanisms underlying this relation. Based on emotional security theory and diathesis-stress model, the present study examined whether emotional insecurity mediated the relationship between interparental conflict and adolescent Internet addiction, and whether this mediating process was moderated by big five personality traits. Our theoretical model was tested using data collected from 1189 Chinese adolescents (Mage = 14.43 years, SD = 1.41). Participants completed anonymous questionnaires assessing their perceptions of interparental conflict, emotional insecurity, big five personality traits, and Internet addiction. After controlling for demographic variables, interparental conflict was positively associated with adolescent Internet addiction. Mediation analysis indicated that emotional insecurity partially mediated the association between interparental conflict and adolescent Internet addiction. Tests of moderated mediation further revealed that the mediated path was stronger for adolescents with higher neuroticism or extraversion. Results highlight the significance of identifying the mechanisms that moderate the mediated paths between interparental conflict and adolescent Internet addiction.

Difficulties in Regulating Emotions as Moderators of Interparental Conflict and Young Adult Children’s Mental Well-Being

This study investigated the degree to which emotion regulation difficulties moderate the negative association between interparental conflict (i.e., parents’ demand/withdraw patterns and symbolic aggression) and young adults’ mental well-being. Participants included 171 young adults (18–28 years old) from intact families who completed an online survey. Using confirmatory factor analysis and SEM, results indicated when young adults have great difficulty in regulating emotions, perceptions of interparental conflict do not significantly predict mental health symptoms. However, fewer difficulties in regulating emotions actually magnify the negative effects of witnessing interparental conflict on young adults’ mental well-being. Hence, while successful emotion management is important for everyday functioning, heightened regulation abilities may simultaneously contribute to young adults’ awareness of the harmful impact of family discord.

I Wish My Parents Would Stop Arguing! The Impact of Interparental Conflict on Young Adults

Research shows that interparental conflict is positively associated with internalizing behaviors in children and adolescents, but few have considered these associations among young adults. This study uses the cognitive-contextual framework to explore whether appraisals of threat and self-blame explain the expected associations between interparental conflict and internalizing symptoms in a sample of young adults. Perceptions of interparental conflict, appraisals of threat and self-blame, and two aspects of internalizing symptoms (i.e., depression, anxiety) were measured in 255 undergraduates (ages 18-21) at two Midwestern universities. Parallel mediation models demonstrated an indirect pathway through threat to depressive symptoms. In contrast, the indirect pathway through self-blame was supported when predicting anxiety. The importance of considering interparental conflict and its psychological consequences during young adulthood is discussed.

The mediation effects of dysfunctional beliefs and emotional regulation on children's perceived parental conflict and internalizing and externalizing problems

The purpose of this study was to examine the mediational effects of dysfunctional beliefs and difficulties in emotional regulation on children's perception of interparental conflict and subsequent internalizing and externalizing problems. The participants in this study were 335 fifth grade elementary school students in Korea. We hypothesized that the association between children's perceived parental conflict and their internalizing and externalizing problems is mediated by dysfunctional beliefs and difficulty in emotional regulation. The hypothesized model was tested by structural equation modeling (SEM). The hypothesis was supported, and we concluded that children's perceived parental conflict affects children's internalizing problems through dysfunctional beliefs and difficulties in emotional regulation. However, the bootstrap results indicate that the direct path between parental conflict and externalizing problems is not significant, which suggests full mediation of dysfunctional belief in the association between parental conflict and externalizing problems, while dysfunctional belief partially mediated the association between parental conflict and internalizing problems.

Families with Distinct Levels of Marital Conflict and Child Adjustment: Which Role for Maternal and Paternal Stress?

This study addresses the links between distinct levels of marital conflict and mothers’ and fathers’ parenting stress and their associations with children’s adjustment. Using a sample of 358 Italian father–mother dyads with school–aged children, we computed a cluster analysis to identify distinct groups of families with different levels of interparental conflict. In each of the three groups identified (low, moderate, and high marital conflict), we conducted correlational and mediational analyses to explore the relationship between interparental conflict and children’s adjustment, the relationship between interparental conflict and maternal and paternal stress, and the potential mediating role of these components of maternal and paternal stress in the association between interparental conflict and children’s adjustment. We administered the R-CTS, PSI-SF, and CBCL to parents in order to assess marital conflict, maternal and paternal stress, and children’s behavioral problems; children completed the CPIC in order to evaluate their perceptions of interparental conflict. Results show that, in the high marital conflict group, levels of interparental conflict negatively affect children’s adjustment; moreover, the parent–child dysfunctional interaction component of maternal stress partially mediates the relationship between interparental discord and children’s internalizing behaviors, while the difficult child component of paternal stress fully mediates the effects of marital conflict on externalizing behaviors. In the moderate marital conflict group, levels of interparental conflict are correlated with the difficult child component of both maternal and paternal stress, while in the low marital conflict group, interparental conflict does not correlate with both maternal and paternal stress and children’s adjustment.