Mother–Father Dyad Conflict Strategy Clusters: Implications for Emerging Adults

Abstract

Research has examined the different parenting styles that are present during emerging adulthood; however, less is known about potential parental conflict strategies that emerging adults may be experiencing during this developmental time period. Conflict strategies are conceptualized in the current study as parents' efforts to regulate, correct, or enforce a consequence in response to their emerging adult child's behavior. Previous research on discipline during childhood and adolescence has suggested the use of harsh discipline (e.g., use of physical force) leads to negative outcomes for children. Despite evidence linking harsh discipline methods to harmful outcomes in various developmental periods and suggested influence of parents in emerging adulthood, very little is known about how parents handle conflict with their emerging adult children. Thus, the present study investigated parental conflict strategies and mental health outcomes of emerging adults. Results revealed a significant parent-child gender interaction for non-violent strategies and psychological aggression. Moreover, results indicated that emerging adult children of parents who utilize similar levels of aggressive methods reported greater psychological problems. The findings from the current study underscore parents' use of conflict strategies when interacting with their emerging adult children, and further emphasize the importance of future research in this area.

Effect of Parental Corporal Punishment on Endorsement of Its Use: Moderated Mediation by Parent Gender and Attitudes Toward Corporal Punishment

“…Although this finding is somewhat surprising, it is consistent with rates found in recent studies that examined continued parental discipline practices during emerging adulthood. For example, in a study conducted by McKinney, Walker, and Kwan (2020), 59% of emerging adults surveyed endorsed receiving physical punishment from their father within the past year. In another study, 20% of emerging adult males and 17% of females reported experiencing corporal punishment (Pollard & McKinney, 2019).…”

“…Not only do emerging adults retain the knowledge they observed from their childhood, many are still receiving discipline from their parents which serves to further influence how emerging adults are likely to parent and discipline their children (McKinney, Walker, & Kwan, 2020; Nelson, Padilla-Walker, Christensen, Evans, & Carroll, 2011). Emerging adulthood is a unique developmental time period in which individuals are transitioning from a dependent to a more independent lifestyle (Arnett, 2000).…”

Racial Differences in Parental Involvement and Physical and Psychological Maltreatment: Processes Related to Regard for Parents

“…The current study examined conflict tactics similarly as Renk et al (2006); however, the participants in the current study were asked to not report retrospectively but rather only report current (i.e., past year) conflict tactics, involvement, and regard for their parents. Recent research on physical and psychological maltreatment perpetrated by parents reported by emerging adults over the past year indicated that a significant proportion of participants endorsed both physical and psychological tactics used against them (McKinney, Stearns, & Szkody, 2018; McKinney, Walker, & Kwan, 2016; Pollard & McKinney, 2016; Rogers, McKinney, & Asberg, 2018). For example, approximately 23% of females and 36% of males endorsed receiving a form of physical maltreatment from their father within the past year (McKinney et al, 2016), and emerging adults tended to report higher amounts of maternal, compared with paternal, maltreatment, with males who reported higher amounts of maltreatment than females (McKinney et al, 2018).…”

“…Recent research on physical and psychological maltreatment perpetrated by parents reported by emerging adults over the past year indicated that a significant proportion of participants endorsed both physical and psychological tactics used against them (McKinney, Stearns, & Szkody, 2018; McKinney, Walker, & Kwan, 2016; Pollard & McKinney, 2016; Rogers, McKinney, & Asberg, 2018). For example, approximately 23% of females and 36% of males endorsed receiving a form of physical maltreatment from their father within the past year (McKinney et al, 2016), and emerging adults tended to report higher amounts of maternal, compared with paternal, maltreatment, with males who reported higher amounts of maltreatment than females (McKinney et al, 2018). Nelson et al (2011) highlighted that information regarding the impact of emerging adults’ relationships with their parents is limited; however, previous research focusing on childhood and later adolescence has suggested distinct and important differences regarding emerging adulthood and that further examination is needed.…”

Parent and Child Depression: Moderated Mediation by Gender and Harsh Parenting in Emerging Adults

“…A large body of evidence suggests that harsh parenting has a strong impact on child outcomes (Baumrind, 1989; Gryczkowski et al, 2010; Jansen et al, 2012; Karazsia & Wildman, 2009; McKee, Colletti, Rakow, Jones, & Forehand, 2008; McKinney, Walker, & Kwan, 2016). For example, negative parenting (i.e., harsh discipline, overreactivity, laxness, and displays of anger) during childhood, regardless of consistency, predicted an increased risk of externalizing and internalizing problems in children between the ages of 2 and 25 years (Baumrind, 1989; Jansen et al, 2012; Karazsia & Wildman, 2009; McKinney & Brown, 2017; McKinney, Stearns, & Szkody, 2018; McKinney, Morse, et al, 2016), although harsh discipline in particular has not been shown to differentiate between internalizing and externalizing behavior problems (McKee et al, 2008; McKinney, Walker, et al, 2016).…”