Citation

Buehler C, Lange G, Franck KL. Child Dev. 2007; 78(3): 775-789.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1467-8624.2007.01032.x

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Early adolescents' (11–14 years) responses to marital hostility were examined in a sample of 416 families. The cognitive-contextual perspective and emotional security hypothesis guided the study and 9 adolescent responses were identified. Prospective associations were examined in several structural equation models that included adolescent problems as outcomes. Self-blame and perceived threat uniquely mediated the association between Year 1 marital hostility and Year 3 adolescent externalizing problems (p<.05). Self-blame, lower constructive representations, internalization of feelings, avoidance, and emotional dysregulation uniquely mediated the association between Year 1 marital hostility and Year 3 internalizing problems. Specific cognitive and emotionally based responses are important to understanding how martial hostility affects youth and need to be considered within an integrated model.