Marital conflict and children's adjustment: A cognitive-contextual framework.

Abstract

We thank Carol Diencr, Ross Parke, and Thomas Bradbury for their helpful comments on earlier drafts of the article.

Enhancing positive development of children: Effects of a multilevel randomized controlled intervention on parenting and child problem behavior

“…The study did not support the extra benefit of the additional school-oriented program Fit and Strong for Life, although several authors point out the need and value of such programs (Hosman et al, 2005). Family variables such as parenting, parental stress, and parenting self-efficacy are powerful predictors of child outcomes (Aviezer, SagiSchwartz, & Koren-Karie, 2003;Erel & Burman, 1995;Grych & Fincham, 1990;Loeber & Farrington, 1998;Spence, 1998) and targeting these factors is promising for intervention. Empirical findings on widespread universal prevention campaigns in childhood and adolescence are still sparse, but merit further attention, particularly selfdirected programs (e.g., Hahlweg, Heinrichs, Kuschel, & Feldmann, 2008;Sanders et al, 2000).…”

Aggressive marital conflict, maternal harsh punishment, and child aggressive-disruptive behavior: Evidence for direct and mediated relations.

“…For example, according to social learning theory, children exposed to interparental aggression may model those conflict behaviors and display aggressive behaviors in subsequent interpersonal interactions (Bandura, 1977). The cognitive-contextual framework attributes direct transmission to children's negative cognitive representations of aggressive marital conflict, including self-blame and expectations of threat (Grych & Fincham, 1990). According to the emotional security hypothesis, exposure to aggressive marital conflict disrupts children's sense of emotional security, evidenced by increased behavioral reactivity to marital conflict and negative internal representations of the interparental relationship (Davies, Harold, Goeke-Morey, & Cummings, 2002).…”

“…Keywords marital conflict; marital disagreement; punishment; aggressive behavior Children exposed to marital conflict often show significant behavioral maladjustment, particularly elevated aggressive-disruptive behavior problems and conflictual relationships with siblings and peers (for review, see Cummings & Davies, 1994;Grych & Fincham, 1990). Exposure to marital conflict is upsetting to children and appears to elicit negative behavioral reactions through direct and mediated pathways.…”

“…Hierarchical regressions revealed direct pathways linking aggressive marital conflict to child aggressivedisruptive behavior at home and school and a partially mediated pathway linking aggressive marital conflict to child aggressive-disruptive behavior at home. Further analyses revealed that rates of marital disagreement moderated the association between aggressive marital conflict and child aggressive-disruptive behavior at home, with an attenuated association at high rates of marital disagreement as compared with low rates of marital disagreement.Keywords marital conflict; marital disagreement; punishment; aggressive behavior Children exposed to marital conflict often show significant behavioral maladjustment, particularly elevated aggressive-disruptive behavior problems and conflictual relationships with siblings and peers (for review, see Cummings & Davies, 1994;Grych & Fincham, 1990). Exposure to marital conflict is upsetting to children and appears to elicit negative behavioral reactions through direct and mediated pathways.…”

Children's Witnessing of Adult Domestic Violence

“…More recently, Grych and Fincham (1990) reviewed studies that directly examined the relationship between marital conflict and children's adjustment. They argue that martial conflict is multi-dimensional, that it "may vary in frequency, intensity, content, and resolution and can be overt and covert" (Grych & Fincham, 1990, p. 267), and that children's adjustment is also multidimensional with adaptiveness, emotional health, self-concept and achievement all being important factors of it.…”