Children's Appraisals of Marital Conflict: Initial Investigations of the Cognitive-Contextual Framework

Abstract

2 studies examined children's appraisals of marital conflict. In Study 1, 45 11- and 12-year-olds reported cognitive, affective, and coping responses to conflicts varying in content and intensity. When conflict concerned the child, children reported more shame and fear of being drawn into the conflict and tended to endorse coping responses that involved direct intervention in it. More intense conflicts led to greater negative affect and perceived threat. In Study 2, 112 12-year-olds responded to conflicts that included a parent-blaming or child-blaming explanation or gave no explanation for the conflict. Explanations that absolved the children of blame for the conflict decreased their fear of becoming involved in the conflict and their desire to intervene in it. These findings show that appraisals of marital conflict are influenced by its content, intensity, and cause and suggest that the meaning of conflict to children is an important determinant of its impact.

Coparenting Conflict, Nonacceptance, and Depression Among Divorced Adults: Results From a 12-Year Follow-Up Study of Child Custody Mediation Using Multiple Imputation.

“…Margolin, Gordis, & John, 2001), this form of conflict occurs between divorced or separated parents entrenched in child custody disputes and/or ongoing battles regarding appropriate parenting practices. Conflict between divorced parents focused on child custody, caretaking, and parenting issues represents a unique domain of interparental discord, and these disputes play a major role in children's postdivorce adjustment (Grych & Fincham, 1993;Hetherington, 1999;Johnston, Kline, & Tschann, 1989;Johnston & Roseby, 1997;Kitzman & Emery, 1994;Kline, Johnston, & Tschann, 1991). Conflict after divorce appears to focus more on children and may occur more often in their presence after separation (Emery, 1994).…”

Interparental conflict and child adjustment: main concepts and research findings

“…Grych & Fincham, 1993). Furthermore, if conflicts between parents are intense, accompanied with verbal aggression, contain child-related elements, and are not properly resolved, then their impact on children is particularly negative because it is perceived as emotionally more distressing and threatening (Shelton, Harold, Goeke-Morey, Cummings, 2006).…”

“…Furthermore, if conflicts between parents are intense, accompanied with verbal aggression, contain child-related elements, and are not properly resolved, then their impact on children is particularly negative because it is perceived as emotionally more distressing and threatening (Shelton, Harold, Goeke-Morey, Cummings, 2006). Research results by Grych and Fincham (1993) indicate that verbal aggression and hostility exacerbate children's negative emotions, self-blame and fear that conflict may escalate and pull them in. Conflicts whose content was child-related induced in children a stronger feeling of shame, self-blame and conviction that the child could help find a solution to the martial conflict.…”

“…If marital conflict is related to the child it raises shame and self-blame in children and stimulates them to intervening in their parents' conflict (Grych & Fincham, 1993). Shelton, Harold, Goeke-Morey and Cummings (2006) found that children are prone to interfere in a conflict for which they feel responsible.…”

The mental health and parenting practices of recently separated parents

“…This is important as a high level of conflict in separated families can reduce the benefits of seeing both parents regularly (Grych & Fincham, 1993;Mo Yee, 2002). A large body of research demonstrates that conflict between parents is associated with an increased risk for psychological problems among children in all families, whether the parents are married or separated (Ahrons & Miller, 1993;Ahrons & Tanner, 2003;Amato & Keith, 1991;Emery, 1982;Johnston & Roseby, 1997;McCombs-Thomas & Forehand, 1993;Otto, Buffington-Vollum, & Edens, 2003).…”