The Unique Influences of Parental Divorce and Parental Conflict on Emerging Adults in Romantic Relationships

Braithwaite, Scott R.; Doxey, Reed A.; Dowdle, Krista K.; Fincham, Frank D.

doi:10.1007/s10804-016-9237-6

Cited by 17 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…Furthermore, children that receive undisrupted parental care (i.e. parents not separated) show a more secure attachment style in adulthood and report fewer marital problems (Amato & Rogers, 1997;Braithwaite, Doxey, Dowdle, & Fincham, 2016).…”

Section: The Bond Between Parents and Their Infantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lost connections: Oxytocin and the neural, physiological, and behavioral consequences of disrupted relationships

Pohl

Young

Bosch

2019

International Journal of Psychophysiology

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In humans and rodent animal models, the brain oxytocin system is paramount for facilitating social bonds, from the formation and consequences of early-life parent-infant bonds to adult pair bond relationships. In social species, oxytocin also mediates the positive effects of healthy social bonds on the partners' well-being. However, new evidence suggests that the negative consequences of early neglect or partner loss may be mediated by disruptions in the oxytocin system as well. With a focus on oxytocin and its receptor, we review studies from humans and animal models, i.e. mainly from the biparental, socially monogamous prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster), on the beneficial effects of positive social relationships both between offspring and parents and in adult partners. The abundance of social bonds and benevolent social relationships, in general, are associated with protective effects against psycho- and physiopathology not only in the developing infant, but also during adulthood. Furthermore, we discuss the negative effects on well-being, emotionality and behavior, when these bonds are diminished in quality or are disrupted, for example through parental neglect of the young or the loss of the partner in adulthood. Strikingly, in prairie voles, oxytocinergic signaling plays an important developmental role in the ability to form bonds later in life in the face of early-life neglect, while disruption of oxytocin signaling following partner loss results in the emergence of depressive-like behavior and physiology. This review demonstrates the translational value of animal models for investigating the oxytocinergic mechanisms that underlie the detrimental effects of developmental parental neglect and pair bond disruption, encouraging future translationally relevant studies on this topic that is so central to our daily lives.

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Section: The Bond Between Parents and Their Infantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lost connections: Oxytocin and the neural, physiological, and behavioral consequences of disrupted relationships

Pohl

Young

Bosch

2019

International Journal of Psychophysiology

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“…Globally, one of the most significant transitions in the human life course in almost every country is either denial from marriage and/or delays in marriage with an increase in cohabitation, divorce rate, remaining single, plus a combination of any of these [ 1 ]. Among these factors, marital conflict and subsequent divorce can have adverse consequences for the family and the community [ 2 ]. Divorce always is painful and damaging, especially for the divorcing parents and children [ 3 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improved couple satisfaction and communication with marriage and relationship programs: are there gender differences?—a systematic review and meta-analysis

et al. 2021

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Background The aspects of marriage and relationship and their effect on couples’ satisfaction are essential and critical aspects to be explored in this globalized and contemporary world. Since there are no reported meta-analysis and systematic reviews conducted in the last two decades in this area, we aimed to investigate the effect of marriage and relationship programs (MRP) on couples’ relationship satisfaction (CRS) and couples’ relationship communication (CRC) and also to determine the gender differences if any. Method In this systematic review and meta-analysis, the randomized clinical trials (RCTs) published between 2000 and July 26, 2019, were retrieved from several online electronic databases such as Medline, Embase, ProQuest, and Cochrane Library. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were developed using the PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) framework of PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). The mean differences (MDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. The reported summary statistics were calculated as random effects models based on the heterogeneity between the studies model. Funnel plots and the Egger regression test was used to confirm the presence of any publication bias. Results Of the total 12 intervention studies included, five (5) are education/communication skills programs, three (3) enrichment programs, and four (4) therapy programs. The impact of these programs was investigated on CRS and CRC. Therapy programs had a larger effect than other programs (pooled MD: 0.53 (95% CI = 0.35 to 0.71, I2 = 71.5% p = 0.0001) and had a larger effect size on wives (pooled MD: 0.53 (95% CI 0.25 to 0.80, I2 = 74.1% p = 0.0001) than husbands RS (pooled MD: 0.26 (95% CI 0.25 to 0.76, I2 = 72.4% p = 0.0001). In RC (relationship communication) area, the Enhancement programs showed the small to large effect on CRC (pooled MD: 1.31 (95% CI = 0.13 to 2.50, I2 = 94.7% p = 0.0001)) and educational programs showed small to medium effect (pooled MD: 0.32 (95% CI = 0.13 to 0.50, I2 = 74.5% p = 0.0001) on women and no effect on men. Conclusion Due to the high effect of the therapy programs on CRS and enhancement program on CRC in the current meta-analysis, the priority of their utilizations in interventions, especially by psychologists and mental health professionals, should be emphasized. Therefore, mental health planning in communities to develop MRP and care for couples’ health should be given special attention to men’s health. Due to the high heterogeneity of the results and with scanty literature in this specific domain, we are uncertain about their actual effect. However, well-designed RCTs with a larger sample size would be beneficial in closely examining the effect of MRPs on CRS and CRC.

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“…In regards to adult children's romantic relationships quality, differential but negative effects of each family experience have been found. Specifically, interparental conflict is associated with lower levels of satisfaction and higher levels of conflict in romantic relationships, whereas parental divorce is associated with more positive attitudes and expectations towards divorce and more negative views towards marriage (Amato & DeBoer, 2001;Braithwaite et al, 2016;Cui & Fincham, 2010). In this study, we compare the effects of parental divorce with those of interparental conflict.…”

Section: Interparental Conflictmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several studies have investigated the impact of parental divorce on adult children's romantic attachment, theoretically as a function of changes to the parent-child attachment relationship following divorce (e.g., Waters et al, 2000). Some have concluded that children from divorced families are more insecurely attached than those from non-divorced families (Braithwaite et al, 2016;Crowell et al, 2009;Fraley & Heffernan, 2013). However, other studies have failed to replicate these results, and have not found significant results in the associations between parental divorce and adult children's attachment strategies or representations (Brennan & Shaver, 1993;Hayashi & Strickland, 1998;Washington & Hans, 2013).…”

Section: Parental Divorcementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although many studies have found significant associations between parental divorce and adult children's attachment anxiety and avoidance (e.g., Braithwaite et al, 2016;Fraley & Heffernan, 2013), our findings regarding hypothesis 1 are in agreement with others that have not found such associations (Brennan & Shaver, 1993;Washington & Hans, 2013). In fact, our findings on the associations between parental divorce and attachment related-anxiety indicate that in our sample those from divorced families report lower attachment anxiety than those from non-divorced families, when the level of interparental conflict is low.…”

Section: Parental Divorcementioning

confidence: 99%

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Parental Divorce and Interparental Conflict: Spanish Young Adults’ Attachment and Relationship Expectations

et al. 2020

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This study focused on the associations between parental divorce and interparental conflict with young adults’ current attachment-related anxiety and avoidance, and romantic relationship expectations. The moderating effect of attachment history was also investigated. Using a sample of 1,078 Spanish young adults (544 women, 518 men; average age 21.4 years), our results confirmed that parental divorce is not associated with young adult children’s higher attachment anxiety and avoidance nor poorer romantic relationship expectations. Moreover, interparental conflict is more strongly associated with attachment-related avoidance (p < .001) and romantic relationship expectations (p < .05) than parental divorce, yet depending on attachment history. In fact, in support of our hypothesis, a more secure attachment history with mother has a buffering effect on the association between high-unresolved interparental conflict and attachment avoidance (β = .17, p < .001). Findings add to the existing literature and promote a better understanding of the complex associations between parental divorce and conflict on adult children´s current attachment and relationship expectations.

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The Unique Influences of Parental Divorce and Parental Conflict on Emerging Adults in Romantic Relationships

Cited by 17 publications

References 44 publications

Lost connections: Oxytocin and the neural, physiological, and behavioral consequences of disrupted relationships

Lost connections: Oxytocin and the neural, physiological, and behavioral consequences of disrupted relationships

Improved couple satisfaction and communication with marriage and relationship programs: are there gender differences?—a systematic review and meta-analysis

Parental Divorce and Interparental Conflict: Spanish Young Adults’ Attachment and Relationship Expectations

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