Children's behavioural reactions to marital conflict as a function of parents' conflict behaviours and alcohol problems

Abstract

This paper examines how children's previous exposure to destructive marital conflict and parental problem drinking relate to children's immediate and specific behavioural reactions to marital conflict. Data are from 215 secondgraders and their families participating in a larger study. Children watched analogues of marital conflict and indicated their behavioural response. Parents completed questionnaire measures of marital conflict and drinking problems. Children's exposure to marital stonewalling was associated with increased child intervention in conflict and decreased avoidance of conflict. Exposure to maternal drinking was related to child caretaking responses to escalated conflict. Exposure to paternal drinking was related to child mediation and avoidance of child-related conflict, but inactive response to escalated conflict. Boys were more likely to mediate and less likely to avoid escalated conflict.

Parental Problem Drinking, Marital Aggression, and Child Emotional Insecurity: A Longitudinal Investigation

“…These results build on previous research examining PPD and children's behavioral reactions to marital confl ict (Keller et al, 2007). Consistent with prior research, differences were found for the impact of PPD among mothers and fathers.…”

“…These associations were observed while controlling for marital confl ict in the home (Keller et al, 2007). This suggests that there are direct links between PPD and emotional insecurity in addition to the indirect effects that would be hypothesized by emotional security theory (i.e., PPD leads to increased marital aggression, and marital aggression results in child emotional insecurity).…”

“…Paternal problem drinking was associated with either avoidance or mediation of child-rearing confl ict (Keller et al, 2007). These reactions are characteristic of emotional insecurity.…”

“…Ballard and Cummings (1990) found that children of alcoholics (COAs) were more likely to become involved in marital disputes than non-COAs; this involvement took the form of comforting and assistance behaviors. In the second study, children reported their probable behavioral responses to vignettes of escalated and child-related marital disputes (Keller et al, 2007). Maternal problem drinking was related to decreased child caretaking responses to child-rearing confl ict but increased child caretaking responses to escalated confl ict.…”

“…Earlier cross-sectional work has found that relations between PPD and child emotional insecurity differ based on features of the confl ict (Keller et al, 2007). Children's expectations for the future of the marital relationship based on each vignette are also examined.…”