Constructive and Destructive Marital Conflict, Parenting, and Children's School and Social Adjustment

Abstract

This study addresses the links between destructive and constructive marital conflict and mothers’ and fathers’ parenting to understand associations with children’s social and school adjustment. Multi-method, longitudinal assessments of 235 mothers, fathers, and children (129 girls) were collected across kindergarten, first, and second grades (ages 5-7 at Time 1; ages 7-9 at Time 3). Whereas constructive marital conflict was related to both mothers’ and fathers’ warm parenting, destructive marital conflict was only linked to fathers’ use of inconsistent discipline. In turn, both mothers’ and fathers’ use of psychological control was related to children’s school adjustment, and mothers’ warmth was related to children’s social adjustment. Reciprocal links between constructs were also explored, supporting associations between destructive marital conflict and mothers’ and fathers’ inconsistent discipline. The merit of examining marital conflict and parenting as multidimensional constructs is discussed in relation to understanding the processes and pathways within families that affect children’s functioning.

Conflicto interpersonal: semejanzas y diferencias por estatus de pareja y reporte de violencia en mujeres de Hidalgo

“…El manejo del conflicto marital es tan importante que está directamente relacionado con los desórdenes alimentarios, el ajuste social y el psicológico de los hijos durante la infancia y la adolescencia (George, Fairchild, Mark Cummings, & Davies, 2014;Gürmen & Rohner, 2014;McCoy, George, Cummings, & Davies, 2013). La influencia del conflicto es tan fuerte, que un pobre manejo del conflicto puede predecir la calidad de las relaciones románticas de los hijos (Miga, Gdula, & Allen, 2012) además de la depresión, el estrés psicológico y emocional en la pareja (Lucas-Thompson, 2012;Papp, Kouros, & Cummings, 2010;Peterson-Post, Rhoades, Stanley, & Markman, 2014).…”

Conflitos Conjugais e Parentais em Famílias com Crianças: Características e Estratégias de Resolução

“…In this sense, the marital conflict is related to negative parental practices, and is associated with the concept of spillover effect (Erel & Burman, 1995), which supports the hypothesis that there is a spilling over of the quality of the marital relationship to the parent-child relationship (Hameister, Barbosa, & Wagner, 2015). As a result, the stress and hostility which emerge from the marital conflict are transposed to the parental relationship, leading to changes in the emotional availability of the parents (rejection, hostility, nonresponsiveness) or in the control which these exercise over the child (poor supervision, or severe or inconsistent discipline) McCoy, George, Cummings, & Davies, 2013).…”

“…Another strategy reported was the parents saying sorry -which serves as a model that teaches the child the need to recognize her/ his errors and seek to make up for them. As in the marital relationships, the strategies may be considered constructive as they involve conflict resolution through showing warmth, parental support, or saying sorry -allowing positive emotional reactions in the child (Bergman et al, 2016;Goeke-Morey et al, 2003;McCoy et al, 2013).…”

Challenging Behavior, Parental Conflict and Community Violence in Students with Aggressive Behavior

“…Parental conflict is related to parents showing less emotional availability and involvement with children (Margolin, Gordis, & John, 2001;Sturge-Apple, Davies, & Cummings, 2006;Werneck, Eder, Yanagida, & Rollett, 2014), excessive psychological control and inconsistent discipline practices (Azam & Hanif, 2011;McCoy, George, Cummings, & Davies, 2013). This conflict, which has a negative effect on parenting practices, favors the presence of externalized behavior problems (aggression, bullying) and internalization (depression, anxiety) in children (Buehler, Lange, & Franck, 2007;Kitzmann, Gaylord, Holt, & Kenny, 2003;Lee, Wesbecher, Lee, & Lee, 2015).…”