Interparental conflict, children's social cognitions, and child aggression: A test of a mediational model.

Abstract

Although correlations between interparental conflict and child maladjustment are well-established, the processes connecting these 2 phenomena are less understood. The present study tested whether an aggressogenic cognitive style mediates the relationship between interparental conflict and child aggression. A multiethnic sample of 115 families with a child between the ages of 7 and 13 years participated. Questionnaires were used to assess parents' and children's perceptions of interparental conflict, children's social problem-solving strategies and beliefs about aggression, and parent and teacher reports of child aggression. Support was found for the mediating effect of aggressogenic cognitions on children's school aggression but not on children's aggression at home. Implications for understanding the associations among interparental conflict, children's social cognitions, and child aggression in different environmental contexts are discussed.

The Influence Of Family Violence On Youth Attitudes

“…These studies suggest unhealthy attitudes toward violence as displayed through subsequent acts of violence and aggression. Other studies documenting the effects of violence exposure across different settings, home, school, neighborhood, detail similar aversive outcomes (Buka, Stichick, Birdthistle, & Earls, 2001;Marcus, Lindahl, & Malik, 2001).…”

Center-Based Early Head Start and Children Exposed to Family Conflict

“…Exposure to family conflict has negative consequences for children's adaptive functioning. Children exposed to family conflict are more likely to display internalizing behaviors (Graham-Bermann, 1996;Holden & Ritchie, 1991;Ingoldsby, Shaw, Owens, & Winslow, 1999;Sternberg et al, 1993), externalizing behaviors (Ingoldsby et al, 1999;Lindahl, 1998;Marcus, Lindahl, & Malik, 2001), traumatic stress symptoms (Glodich, 1998), low academic achievement (Jaffe, Wolfe, & Wilson, 1990), low self-esteem (Hughes, 1988), and poor social functioning (Harrist & Ainslie, 1998). The negative impacts of family conflict on children are observable from infancy to adolescence (Davies & Cummings, 1994;Ingoldsby et al, 1999;Kelly, 2000).…”

Práticas educativas parentais em famílias de adolescentes em conflito com a lei

“…A família do adolescente em conflito com a lei tem uma forte influência tanto na aquisição e manutenção dos comportamentos infratores como na extinção de tal comportamento ou desenvolvimento de habilidades pró-sociais, como evidencia a literatura (Feldman, 1979;Patterson, Reid & Dishion, 1992;Putallaz & Heflin, 1995;Sidman, 1995;Conte, 1996;Kazdin & BuelaCasal, 1998;Pacheco, Teixeira & Gomes, 1999;Gomide, 2000;Katsurada & Sugawara, 2000;Eddy, Leve & Fagot, 2001;Hay, 2001;Marcus, Lindahl & Malik, 2001;Wright & Cullen, 2001). Em estudo com pais de adolescentes em conflito com a lei, Carvalho (2003) demonstrou que, apesar de os pais atribuírem a fatores externos a causalidade do comportamento infrator de seus filhos, reconhecem que mudanças na relação pais-filhos poderiam auxiliar o adolescente em situação de conflito com a lei.…”