Citation

Erath SA, Bierman KL. J. Fam. Psychol. 2006; 20(2): 217-226.

Affiliation

Pennsylvania State University, 106 East Henderson, University Park, PA 16802, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, American Psychological Association)

DOI

10.1037/0893-3200.20.2.217

PMID

16756397

PMCID

PMC2765691

Abstract

Direct associations between aggressive marital conflict and child aggressive-disruptive behavior at home and school were explored in this cross-sectional study of 360 kindergarten children. In addition, mediated pathways linking aggressive marital conflict to maternal harsh punishment to child aggressive-disruptive behavior were examined. Moderation analyses explored how the overall frequency of marital disagreement might buffer or exacerbate the impact of aggressive marital conflict on maternal harsh punishment and child aggressive-disruptive behavior. Hierarchical regressions revealed direct pathways linking aggressive marital conflict to child aggressive-disruptive 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.

Language: en