Interparental conflict in context: exploring relations between parenting processes and children's conflict appraisals

J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol. 2010;39(2):163-75. doi: 10.1080/15374410903532593.

Abstract

Children's appraisals of conflict are a mechanism by which parental discord can lead to child maladjustment. The cognitive-contextual framework proposes that parent-child relationships may affect how children perceive conflict, but this idea has rarely been examined empirically. This study investigated relations between conflict appraisals, parenting, and child adjustment in a sample of 150 8- to 12-year-old children, using a multi-informant, multimethod design. Mothers' coercive/controlling and emotionally unsupportive parenting magnified the relation between conflict and children's self-blame; emotionally supportive parenting diminished this association. Children's secure attachment with fathers was linked with less threat and self-blame; more security reduced self-blame for conflict. Data suggest that supportive, responsive parenting can buffer the effects of interparental conflict on children by reducing self-blaming attributions for parental discord.

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Family Conflict / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Models, Psychological
  • Object Attachment*
  • Parent-Child Relations*
  • Parenting / psychology*
  • Self Concept
  • Social Adjustment
  • Social Environment