A unified model exploring parenting practices as mediators of marital conflict and children's adjustment

Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2013 Jun;44(3):419-29. doi: 10.1007/s10578-012-0336-8.

Abstract

We examined positive and negative parenting practices and psychological control as mediators of the relations between constructive and destructive marital conflict and children's internalizing and externalizing problems in a unified model. Married mothers of 121 children between the ages of 6 and 12 completed questionnaires measuring marital conflict, parenting practices, and child adjustment. Analyses revealed significant direct paths from destructive marital conflict to negative parenting practices, psychological control, and both children's internalizing and externalizing behavior. In addition, psychological control was found to partially mediate relations between destructive marital conflict and children's internalizing and externalizing behavior.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Child
  • Child Behavior / psychology*
  • Family Conflict / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Internal-External Control*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Models, Psychological
  • Parenting / psychology*
  • Social Adjustment*
  • Young Adult