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Abstract
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While research has repeatedly demonstrated that interparental conflict is related to poorer child/adolescent functioning in the areas of internalizing and externalizing problems, as well as prosocial and cognitive competence, the particular relevant dimensions of the conflict have yet to be studied. The present study examined the contributions of three different dimensions of conflict to these difficulties in adolescent functioning. Forty-eight mother-father-adolescent triads participated by completing questionnaires regarding the following dimensions of their interparental conflict: frequency, method of handling, and outcome. Assessment of adolescent functioning was obtained independently through teacher-completed measures of internalizing and externalizing problems and prosocial and cognitive functioning. The results of correlational analyses indicated that father-completed measures, particularly the use of verbal and physical aggression to handle conflict, were related to all four measures of adolescent functioning. In contrast, mother-completed measures were not related. Multiple regression analyses were also conducted. For all four measures, either father physical or father verbal aggression entered first and accounted for 17 to 48% of the variance across the four dependent measures. No other indices of conflict individually accounted for a significant portion of the variance beyond that accounted for by father''s verbal or physical aggression. Possible explanations for the relationship between father''s method of handling of conflict and adolescent functioning are discussed.
VioLit summary:
OBJECTIVE:
The purpose of this study by Kempton et al. was to examine the relationship between interparental conflict and poor adolescent functioning, in an attempt to clarify which particular dimensions of the conflict are the most relevant to this association.
METHODOLOGY:
A quasi-experimental, cross-sectional design was employed, with a non-probability sample of 48 adolescents (19 females, 29 males), their mothers, fathers and social studies teachers, all recruited via community advertising and announcements. The predictor variables in this study were parental reports of frequency of interparental conflict, methods of handling conflict, and outcome of conflict. Frequency of conflict was assessed by use of the 20-item Interparental Conflict Questionnaire, which has previously documented adequate test-retest reliability and validity. Ten items assessed spousal issues such as finances and how to spend leisure time, while the other ten addressed child-related issues such as child's school work and social activities. Method of handling conflict was assessed by the 14-item Conflict Tactics Scale, measuring amount of reasoning, verbal and physical aggression used. Adequate relaibility and validity had been previously established. Outcome was determined by the 14-item Marital Conflict Outcome Instrument which yielded two outcomes - escalation of conflict or increased intimacy in relationship. Each parent completed each of the three measures. In order to measure adolescent functioning in the areas of cognitive and prosocial competence, the Cognitive and Social Competence subscale of the Teacher's Rating Scale of Child's Actual Competence was employed. Reliability and validity were previously established. To measure externalizing and internalizing problems, the researchers employed the Conduct disorder and Anxiety-Withdrawal Subscales of the Revised Behavior Problem Checklist (reliability and validity established). Parents were allotted a two to three hour session to fill out the questionnaires, and teachers' questionnaires were subsequently mailed out to the social studies teachers. Pearson correlations and stepwise multiple regression analyses were performed.
FINDINGS/DISCUSSION:
It was found that the method of handling conflict had the most detrimental impact upon adolescent functioning, in particular father physical and verbal aggression. For all four measures of adolescent functioning, such behavior on the part of the father entered the equations first and accounted for 17% to 48% of the variance across the four dependent variables. It was also found that internalizing problems and social competence were related to verbal aggression, while externalizing problems were related to physical aggression. Both types of father aggression were related to cognitive competence, whilst none of the mother measures was related to any aspect of adolescent functioning.
AUTHORS' RECOMMENDATIONS:
The authors suggested directions for further research in the field, as results indicated that the separate dimensions of interparental conflict, especially use of father-oriented measures, should be examined.
EVALUATION:
While this study does not differentiate between the effects of interparental conflict upon males and females, and is hampered by a small sample size, it does provide the basis for future work with larger samples of each sex. Good measures are used for each of the variables of interest, and using both parents and teachers of the adolescents provides for reliable information and good internal validity. Use of a voluntary sample drawn from within the community also provides relatively good external validity. Whilst alternative explanations for the findings are not addressed, there is an interesting discussion of implications for future research. (CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado)
N1 - Call Number: F-04, AB-04
KW - Family Environment
KW - Marital Conflict
KW - Interparental Conflict
KW - Family Relations
KW - Interparental Relations
KW - Juvenile Development
KW - Juvenile Witness
KW - Witnessing Violence Effects
KW - Witnessing Spouse Abuse
KW - Spouse Abuse Effects
KW - Psychological Victimization Effects
KW - Domestic Violence Effects
KW - Coping Skills
KW - Early Adolescence
KW - Coping Behavior
KW - Juvenile Behavior
KW - Violence Against Women
KW - Partner Violence
KW - Children of Battered Women
Language: en |