Interparental discord and adolescent adjustment trajectories: the potentiating and protective role of intrapersonal attributes

Child Dev. 2001 Jul-Aug;72(4):1163-78. doi: 10.1111/1467-8624.00340.

Abstract

This prospective study of 360 adolescent-mother dyads examined whether associations between marital discord and trajectories of adolescent depressive symptoms and delinquency varied as a function of three intrapersonal attributes: temperament, childhood behavior problems, and perceived family support. Difficult temperament (i.e., dysrhythmicity, poor task orientation) potentiated the effects of marital discord on adolescent trajectories of adjustment, whereas heightened perceptions of family support protected adolescents from the adverse effects of marital discord. Adolescents with behavior problem histories were initially less vulnerable to marital discord; however, the high levels of depressive symptoms exhibited by adolescents with childhood behavior problems persisted over time only when they were exposed to elevated marital discord. The effects of the moderators differed in terms of duration and course.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological*
  • Adolescent
  • Child Behavior Disorders / diagnosis
  • Child Behavior Disorders / psychology
  • Conflict, Psychological*
  • Depression / diagnosis
  • Depression / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Juvenile Delinquency / psychology
  • Male
  • Marriage
  • Parents / psychology*
  • Personality Development
  • Psychology, Adolescent*
  • Risk Factors
  • Social Support
  • Substance-Related Disorders / diagnosis
  • Substance-Related Disorders / psychology