A Longitudinal Analysis of Parenting Practices, Couple Satisfaction, and Child Behavior Problems

Abstract

This longitudinal study examined the relationship between couple relationship satisfaction, parenting practices, parent depression, and child problem behaviors. The study participants (n = 148) were part of a larger experimental study that examined the effectiveness of a brief family-centered intervention, the Family Check-Up model. Regression analysis results indicated that our proposed model accounted for 38% of the variance in child problem behavior at Time 2, with child problem behavior and couple relationship satisfaction at child age 2 years each accounting for a significant portion of the variance in child problem behavior at age 3. Couple relationship satisfaction directly predicted child behavior problems over time. Clinical and research implications are discussed.The relationship between couple relationship satisfaction and distress, parenting, and child outcomes is well established. Researchers have consistently demonstrated that couple distress negatively affects the partners' health, welfare, and quality of life, and is a risk factor for poor child outcomes (Cordova, Warren, & Gee, 2001;El-Sheikh & Staton, 2004;Fals-Stewart, O'Farrell, Birchler, Cordova, & Kelley, 2005). Children from high-conflict families, when compared with children from low-conflict homes, have more adjustment problems (Booth & Amato, 2001;Harold, Shelton, Goeke-Morey, & Cummings, 2004). Moreover, children of distressed couples often have poorer school performance, more behavioral problems, and greater incidence of physical illness (Cherlin et al., 1991). At the extreme end of couple conflict, children exposed to parental domestic violence have significantly higher rates of behavioral and emotional problems, poorer academic performance, lower levels of well-being, poorer physical health, and higher rates of clinical depression, anxiety, suicide ideation, drug abuse, and posttraumatic stress symptoms (Graham-Bermann & Edleson, 2001;Jouriles, Norwood, McDonald, Vincent, & Mahoney, 1996).The birth of a first child and negotiation of child-rearing responsibilities mark a developmental transition that is particularly influential on the couple relationship and child outcomes. Some research has demonstrated that this time period can be filled with joy and pleasure with the baby (Gottman & Notarius, 2002). Yet, in even the healthiest relationship, it is normative to experience a decrease in relationship satisfaction with the birth of the first child (Schulz, Cowan, & Cowan, 2006;Shapiro, Gottman, & Carrere, 2000). In fact, researchers estimate that one third of all divorces occur within the first 5 years of marriage, and for many couples, the trajectory toward divorce begins with the decline in the female partner's relationship satisfaction after the arrival of the first baby (Cowan & Cowan, 1992;Shapiro et al., 2000). During the transition to parenthood, couples frequently demonstrate a dramatic increase in relationship conflict in addition to a decrease in positive interactions, which result in an overall decline in couple re...

Predictors of family and marital functioning at early postpartum

“…, Linville et al . , Mäntymaa et al . ), understanding factors that affect family and marital functioning during parental transitions is of paramount importance.…”

Healthy Nests Transition to Parenthood Program: A Phenomenological Analysis of Participant Experiences

“…Most interventions that do exist focus on parenting behaviors of mothers in particular, with little emphasis on the couple functioning (e.g., Guttentag et al 2014;Hurlburt et al 2013). Yet, there is evidence that tailored interventions with distressed couples can be effective for reducing conflict, improving relationship satisfaction, and thereby moderating negative child outcome pathways (Cleary Bradley et al 2011;Dishion and Kavanagh 2003;Shapiro et al 2011;Linville et al 2010). More specifically, a study that did investigate the longitudinal effects of a brief intervention (Bringing Baby Home) specifically designed for new parents reported the following outcomes: (a) improved relationship quality, (b) less interpersonal hostility, (c) markedly lower maternal and paternal postpartum depression, and (d) increased warmth and involvement of fathers (Shapiro and Gottman 2005).…”

“…Moderate to high levels of maladaptive conflict negatively impact partners' health, well-being, and quality of life, and are a risk factor for poor child outcomes (Ablow et al 2009;Cordova et al 2001;Linville et al 2010). In addition, couple conflict often disrupts parentchild relations and is associated with diminished parenting, resulting in negative parenting behaviors such as harsher discipline and being less involved with their children (Erel and Burman 1995;Krishnakumar and Buehler 2000;Nelson et al 2014).…”

Work–Life Balance and Early Stage Careers: Dual Perspectives from One Household

“…We are extremely dedicated to playing equal roles in our son’s life. One of us could easily handle feeding him dinner and putting him to bed every week night, but we make an effort to share those tasks for both ourselves and our child, as he is now at the stage when relationship satisfaction has significant influence on his long-term behavior and well-being ( 1 , 2 ). We want him to rely on us equally and feel that he has a consistent, stable home environment with two available parents.…”