The mediation effects of dysfunctional beliefs and emotional regulation on children's perceived parental conflict and internalizing and externalizing problems

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the mediational effects of dysfunctional beliefs and difficulties in emotional regulation on children's perception of interparental conflict and subsequent internalizing and externalizing problems. The participants in this study were 335 fifth grade elementary school students in Korea. We hypothesized that the association between children's perceived parental conflict and their internalizing and externalizing problems is mediated by dysfunctional beliefs and difficulty in emotional regulation. The hypothesized model was tested by structural equation modeling (SEM). The hypothesis was supported, and we concluded that children's perceived parental conflict affects children's internalizing problems through dysfunctional beliefs and difficulties in emotional regulation. However, the bootstrap results indicate that the direct path between parental conflict and externalizing problems is not significant, which suggests full mediation of dysfunctional belief in the association between parental conflict and externalizing problems, while dysfunctional belief partially mediated the association between parental conflict and internalizing problems.

Challenging Behavior, Parental Conflict and Community Violence in Students with Aggressive Behavior

“…This is consistent with reports in the literature which suggest frequent and hostile parental conflict is related to the presence in the children of aggressive behavior toward peers at school (Buehler et al, 2007;Kitzmann et al, 2003;Lee et al, 2015). Parental conflict explains the presence of aggressive Note.…”

“…This conflict, which has a negative effect on parenting practices, favors the presence of externalized behavior problems (aggression, bullying) and internalization (depression, anxiety) in children (Buehler, Lange, & Franck, 2007;Kitzmann, Gaylord, Holt, & Kenny, 2003;Lee, Wesbecher, Lee, & Lee, 2015). It also damages adolescents' and children's sense of family identity and safety, effects that are exacerbated when conflict is common, if it is handled in a hostile way and when it relates to or involves children (Cummings, Goekemorey, & Papp, 2003;Lindsey, Colwell, Frabutt, & McKinnon-Lewis, 2006).…”

Interparental violence: Professionals’ perspectives in the child protection system

“…Chronic EIV is critical for young people, since it may enhance a primacy for more negative and intense emotional responses in subsequent conflicts (Davies & Cummings, 1994;Grych & Fincham, 1990), as well as greater behavioural dysregulation and negative mental health outcomes (Davies et al, 2020;Holden, 2003;Lee et al, 2015). Repetitive and longer exposure to traumatic events is associated with worse developmental outcomes .…”

“…Regarding the properties of interparental conflict, the model emphasizes that every interparental relationship has some level of conflict (Lee et al, 2015) that varies in frequency, intensity, content and resolution (Grych & Fincham, 1990). Intense and frequent conflict, which involves physical aggression is associated with higher levels of psychological problems (Eldik et al, 2020;Holt et al, 2008;Soares & Sani, 2015).…”

“…This traumatic dimension stems from the child's dependence on the perpetrators of violence as well as from the fact that this violence occurs in a proximal context of development (i.e., family), which should be a secure and protective environment (Dugal et al, 2016;Telman et al, 2015). Despite that, evidence also indicates that there are also child victims who exhibit adaptative or resilient developmental outcomes (Davies et al, 2020;Carlson et al, 2019;Grych et al, 2015;Lee et al, 2015).…”