Adolescent Behavior Problems and Interparental Conflict: the Moderating Role of Parent-child Attachment

• Main Author: Daubs, Carlyn
• Other Authors: Riggs, Shelley A.
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: University of North Texas 2013
• Subjects: Parent-child attachment; interparental conflict; internalizing behavior problems; externalizing behavior problems
• Online Access: https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc407793/

The current study examined the role that parent-child attachment plays in the relationship between marital conflict and the development of behavior problems in adolescents. To evaluate the hypothesis that attachment moderates this relationship, 57 families were recruited via e-mail invitation sent to families that participated in local church youth groups, school organizations, and a treatment program designed for adolescents with behavior problems. One custodial parent and his/her adolescent child completed an online or paper version of a survey consisting of the Achenbach’s Behavior Checklists, the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment, and the Children’s Perception of Interparental Conflict Scale. Hypotheses were evaluated using Baron and Kenny’s (1986) procedures to test moderating effects with multiple regression analyses. Mother attachment demonstrated a significant moderation effect between the intensity of interparental conflict and the parent’s report of externalizing behavior problems. Specifically, at low conflict intensity levels, relative to low attachment security, high attachment security was associated with fewer externalizing behavior problems, whereas at high intensities of interparental conflict high attachment security was associated with more externalizing behavior problems.