Family Financial Stress, Parenting and Problem Behavior in Adolescents

Abstract

In this study, we examine how financial stress is associated with problem behavior in adolescents through the lives of their parents. Using an actor–partner interdependence model, we explore pathways within (actor) and between (partner) parents. Our data included 340 families, with both parents rating their financial stress, depressive symptoms, and interparental conflict, and with parents and adolescents rating parenting and problem behavior in adolescents. The results indicate that the association between financial stress and problem behavior in adolescents is mediated by depressive symptoms, interparental conflict, and positive parenting. Another finding is that financial stress has direct and indirect effects on interparental conflict. Furthermore, the impact of financial stress on positive parenting is greater for fathers than it is for mothers. Although actor effects are more prominent, there is also evidence of partner effects. Our results underscore the importance of including multiple family members in studies on family stress processes.

Financial Stress, Parent Functioning and Adolescent Problem Behavior: An Actor–Partner Interdependence Approach to Family Stress Processes in Low-, Middle-, and High-Income Families

“…Consistent with the hypothesis that fathering is more vulnerable to external influences than mothering (Cummings et al 2004), the impact of financial stress on positive parenting was greater for fathers than it was for mothers. Furthermore, although actor effects were more prominent, they found partner effects between depressive symptoms and interparental conflict, suggesting that more depressive symptoms result in more relationship adjustment by the partner (Ponnet et al 2013b). These findings underscore the importance of including both mothers and fathers in studies of family stress processes to enhance our understanding of the indirect pathways between financial stress and child outcomes.…”

“…Based on the fathering vulnerability hypothesis (Cummings et al 2004) and the findings by Ponnet et al (2013b), the parenting of fathers in low-, middle-, and high-income families is expected to be more vulnerable to stress than the parenting of mothers, but no parent gender differences are expected in the pathways to adolescent outcomes.…”

“…By including data from both parents, as well as by studying separate pathways through which financial stress experienced by parents might affect the functioning of parents and in turn the behavior of their adolescent children, researchers can begin to understand the dynamic processes that constitute family relationships (Ponnet et al 2013b). One way to do this is to apply the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM, Kenny et al 2006), a multi-actor approach that can account for the mutual influences between family members by modeling effects on an intrapersonal level (also called actor effects) and on an interpersonal level (partner effects).…”

“…Recently, Ponnet et al (2013b) used the APIM approach to study an extended family stress model, that is, including parenting and child outcomes. Their study was the first in which all constructs of the family stress model were treated separately.…”

“…These findings underscore the importance of including both mothers and fathers in studies of family stress processes to enhance our understanding of the indirect pathways between financial stress and child outcomes. Similar to the study conducted by Ponnet et al (2013b), the present study applied the APIM approach to the family stress model. However, this study expands on earlier research by investigating within-and betweengroup differences in the ways in which family members respond to the sources of stress.…”