Strengths-based spillover models: Constructive interparental conflict, parental supportive problem solving, and development of child executive functioning.

Abstract

Empirical research examining the Spillover Hypothesis has largely substantiated that interparental conflict comprised of hostility and anger has negative implications for parenting behaviors and cascading effects on children's development. However, less is known about how constructive forms of interparental conflict may operate in spillover processes. Toward this, the present study examined how interparental supportive and problem-solving approaches to conflict were associated with parental guided learning in the caregiving context and by extension young children's executive functioning. Participants included 231 families (mothers, fathers, and their child). Assessments of constructive interparental conflict were derived from both observational tasks and multi-informant report. Parental supportive problem solving was assessed observationally during a goal-directed parent-child interaction. Children's inhibitory control, working memory, and visual-spatial reasoning were assessed using validated tasks. Analyses were conducted in a structural equation modeling framework, and significance of indirect paths were tested using RMediation. Results showed constructive interparental conflict was associated with increases in maternal supportive problem solving, which in turn predicted increases in children's working memory. Furthermore, constructive interparental conflict was indirectly associated with increases in children's inhibitory control via paternal supportive problem solving. These findings were significant over two waves of data collection after controlling for child sex, maternal and paternal age, and maternal and paternal education. Findings underscore the potential utility of family resilience theory and domain approaches to parenting for increasing specificity and precision in identifying spillover processes.

An integrated model: marital effect on adolescent behavioral problems through siblings

“…A substantial number of studies have examined the impact of marital conflict on the negative function of adolescents while ignoring the role of marital intimacy ( Erath et al, 2006 ; Philbrook et al, 2018 ; Swerbenski et al, 2023 ). Based on family system theory, we extended previous studies by including both marital conflict and intimacy, as well as depressive symptoms and aggressive behavior, in an integrated model.…”

“…An open and positive marital relationship can provide emotional support, a source of delight and purpose in life for adolescents, which are vital to their mental health and psychosocial adjustment ( Li et al, 2020 ; Zhang et al, 2022 ). In contrast, exposure to marital conflict may evoke adolescents’ fear, pain, vigilance and hostility, potentially leading to depression and other mental illnesses ( Cummings et al, 2012 ; Swerbenski et al, 2023 ). Thus, fostering a harmonious marital relationship may serve as a pivotal factor in mitigating adolescent depressive symptoms and aggressive behaviors.…”

“…A substantial number of studies have examined the impact of marital conflict on the negative function of adolescents while ignoring the role of marital intimacy (Erath et al, 2006;Philbrook et al, 2018;Swerbenski et al, 2023). Based on family Standardized regression coefficients of the mediation model among marital conflict, marital intimacy, sibling hostility, sibling affection, adolescent depressive symptoms and aggressive behavior in second-born adolescents.…”

“…Both are closely linked to adolescent development. For example, marital conflict may damage adolescent mental health and creates behavioral problems, including anxiety, depressive symptoms and elevated aggression ( Philbrook et al, 2018 ; Li et al, 2020 ; Swerbenski et al, 2023 ). While decreased marital intimacy is related to decreased adolescent internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors over time ( Chen and Shi, 2017 ; Knopp et al, 2017 ; Zhang et al, 2022 ), which is more important for cultivating adolescents’ positive qualities from the view of positive psychology.…”

A process model of parental executive functioning as a spillover mechanism linking interparental conflict and parenting difficulties across parenting domains.

“…Compared to authoritarian discipline, which has received considerable attention in the IPC spillover literature (Harold & Sellers, 2018), there are no direct tests of the proposition that IPC affects parental scaffolding behavior, despite the influence of scaffolding on optimal child development (e.g., Jones-Gordils et al, 2021). Swerbenski et al (2023) found that constructive IPC was positively associated with parental scaffolding behavior. The omission of studies examining scaffolding behavior is partly a result of the IPC spillover literature focusing heavily on the discipline domain of parenting.…”