Mediation and moderation of divorce effects on children’s behavior problems.

Abstract

Using data from the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development, we examined children’s internalizing and externalizing behavior problems from age 5 to age 15 in relation to whether they had experienced a parental divorce. Children from divorced families had more behavior problems compared with a propensity score-matched sample of children from intact families according to both teachers and mothers. They exhibited more internalizing and externalizing problems at the first assessment after the parents’ separation and at the last available assessment (age 11 for teacher reports, or age 15 for mother reports). Divorce also predicted both short-term and long-term rank-order increases in behavior problems. Associations between divorce and child behavior problems were moderated by family income (assessed before the divorce) such that children from families with higher incomes prior to the separation had fewer internalizing problems than children from families with lower incomes prior to the separation. Higher levels of pre-divorce maternal sensitivity and child IQ also functioned as protective factors for children of divorce. Mediation analyses showed that children were more likely to exhibit behavior problems after the divorce if their post-divorce home environment was less supportive and stimulating, their mother was less sensitive and more depressed, and their household income was lower. We discuss avenues for intervention, particularly efforts to improve the quality of home environments in divorced families.

Do Changes to Family Structure Affect Child and Family Outcomes? A Systematic Review of the Instability Hypothesis

“…Havermans, Botterman, and Matthijs () found that the effects of divorce on school engagement were partially mediated by the quality of mother–child and father–child relationships, as well as parental conflict. Finally, in Weaver and Schofield (), the effects of divorce on teacher‐reported internalizing behaviors were mediated by the postdivorce income‐to‐needs ratio, whereas mother‐reported internalizing behaviors were mediated by the income‐to‐needs ratio, the quality of the home environment, and maternal depression. The quality of the home environment and maternal depression mediated the link between divorce and teacher‐reported externalizing behaviors, whereas the quality of the home environment and the income‐to‐needs ratio mediated the effects for mother‐reported externalizing behaviors.…”

“…A further four that presented X → M, M → Y, and X → Y data found evidence of partial mediation by at least one type of transition and stressor (Havermans et al, ; Lacey et al, , ; Vargas et al, ). Among the studies with behavioral or emotional outcomes, 10 found evidence for full mediation by at least one type of transition and stressor (Averdijk et al, ; Coley et al, ; Fomby, ; Fomby & Osborne, ; Osborne & McLanahan, ; Waldfogel et al, ; Weaver & Schofield, ; Wickrama et al, ; Wu, Hou, & Schimmele, ; Wu & Chiang, ). A further two that presented X → M, M → Y, and X → Y data found evidence of partial mediation by at least one type of transition and stressor (Bachman et al, ; Vargas et al, ).…”

Young Children in Divorce and Separation: Pilot Study of a Mediation‐Based Co‐Parenting Intervention

“…Co‐parenting an infant or very young child after separation involves complex developmental considerations, and disputes over the best way to go about this are common in family law. Vulnerabilities of infants and toddlers to chronic and acute disruptions in parenting responsiveness before and after separation are well documented (Lucas, Nicholson, & Erbas, ; Weaver & Schofield, ). Agreement is widespread on the potentially enduring consequences for young children and with this the need to ensure “that essential components of early development are not jeopardized by the post separation parenting arrangement” (Pruett, McIntosh, & Kelly, , p. 241).…”

The Connection between Personal Traumas and Educational Exclusion in Young People’s Lives

“…Literature on divorce and separation suggests that this has a considerable impact on the wellbeing of children and young people and can result in longterm poor outcomes (Bream and Buchanan, 2003). Behavioural problems and performing less well in school are just two of the resultant outcomes usually experienced (Weaver et al, 2015). Whilst severe distress is usually short-term at the time of separation, it is often increased again when adjusting to new reconstituted family dynamics.…”