Marital Conflict & Child Maladjustment

Christina Maria Aguilera, 18 December 1980, Staten Island, New York, USA.

Aguilera was one of several US teen pop stars to rise to huge popular acclaim in the late 90s.

Of Irish and Ecuadorian descent, her mother played violin and piano professionally while her father's position in the military resulted in the family travelling extensively around the world.

Finally settling in Wexford, Pittsburgh, Aguilera began performing at school talent shows, before making her first professional appearance at the age of eight on the nationally syndicated Star Search show.

Christina has ghosts of domestic violence and child abuse — Aguilera and her mother were victimized by her father when she was young — she transforms the ghosts into talismans of strength and courage.

Frameworks - Trauma TheoryI’m OK

Once upon a time there was a girlIn her early years she had to learnHow to grow up living in a war that she called homeNever know just where to turn for shelter from the stormHurt me to see the pain across my mother's faceEverytime my father's fist would put her in her placeHearing all the yelling I would cry up in my roomHoping it would be over soon   Bruises fade father, but the pain remains the sameAnd I still remember how you kept me so afraidStrength is my mother for all the love she gaveEvery morning that I wake I look back to yesterdayAnd I'm OK   I often wonder why I carry all this guiltWhen it's you that helped me put up all these walls I've built

Shadows stir at night through a crack in the doorThe echo of a broken child screaming "please no more"Daddy, don't you understand the damage you have doneTo you it's just a memory, but for me it still lives on  

Bruises fade father, but the pain remains the sameAnd I still remember how you kept me so, so afraidStrength is my mother for all the love she gaveEvery morning that I wake I look back to yesterday   It's not so easy to forgetAll the lines you left along her neckWhen I was thrown against cold stairsAnd every day I'm afraid to come homeIn fear of what I might see there   Bruises fade father but the pain remains the sameAnd I still remember how you kept me so afraidStrength is my mother for all the love she gaveEvery morning that I wake I look back to yesterdayAnd I'm OKI'm OK

The Aguilera Continuum - Exploring the Differing Effects of

Marital Conflict on Children -

Overview

Introduction

Explanatory Frameworks

Impact of Conflict on ChildrenDevelopmental Psychopathology Perspective

Children’s relationshipsWith parents, siblings, extended family & peers

Extreme Impacts

Predicting Outcomes

Prevention & Intervention

Outcomes of Interparental Conflict

Negative child outcomes are more strongly associated with family variables, particularly marital conflict, than divorceChildren of divorced families appear to have

higher levels of well-being than children from intact, high conflict families (Amato & Keith, 1991)

Continued conflict between parents after divorce exacerbates negative child adjustment (Hetherington & Clingempeel, 1989)

Outcomes of Interparental Conflict

Maladjustment occurs on a continuumAssociations noted between marital conflict and:

Internalizing behaviour problems• Depression, withdrawal, anxiety

Externalizing behaviour problems• Conduct disorder, aggressiveness,

delinquency/antisocial behaviourPost-traumatic stress symptomsPhysiological & health symptomsProblems with mood, academics, peer

relationships, and social problem solving abilities

Outcomes of Interparental Conflict

Associations are modest less than 0.30

Meta-analysis of over 80 studies found mean effect size of 0.46

Review of 26 studies, vast majority of studies were associated with effect sizes of less than 0.30

Zimet & Jacob (2001)

Why the difference?

Children differ…Families differ…Social support structures differ…

Effect of marital conflict on child adjustment is a broad construct

Frameworks for understanding

Frameworks

Family Systems TheoryTransmission of AffectContingency of Cognitive StyleGenetic Transmission TheoryTrauma TheorySocial Learning Theory

Frameworks

Family Systems Theory –Psychopathology as a reflection of family

processesMarital power struggles are accompanied by an

intensification of intimacy &/or rejection in the parent-child relationship

Frameworks

Transmission of Affect –Spillover

Disharmony in one family relationship effects other family relationships and overall family stability

Common-factorPersonality characteristics of one person

influences both marital and parental relationships

Frameworks

Contingency of Cognitive StyleLike common-factor but cognitive

Individuals may apply cognitive perceptions globally not specifically

Negative perceptions and interpretations of marital relationship colours view of children

Frameworks

Genetic Transmission TheoryEffects of marital discord are either caused or

exacerbated by genetic similarities between parent and child

Parental conflict and child conduct problems are mediated by genes (e.g. antisocial personality)

Frameworks

Social Learning TheoryChildren learn from what they see from parentsIndirectly

Apply model of conflict (poor conflict resolution & hostility) to other relationships

DirectlyInterparental conflict disrupts normal family activities

& limits opportunities to correct aversive child behaviours

Frameworks

Social Learning Theory (cont’d…)Growing up in the presence of parental conflict

can have a disinhibitory effect, teaching children that aggressive behaviour is appropriate and permitted

A child may see aggression as an appropriate form of conflict management and develop maladaptive techniques for problem solving or conflict resolution

Grych & Fincham, 1990

Frameworks

Trauma TheoryMost applicable to extreme or abusive marital

conflictMaladjustment caused by repeated exposure to

traumatic stressor of interparental conflict

Post-Traumatic Stress DisorderSensitization

Frameworks

Trauma Theory (cont’d)

SensitizationMore frequent open conflict is associated

with increased behaviour problems

Johnson et. al. (1987), Long et. al. (1987, 1988), Porter &

O’Leary (1980), Wierson et. al. (1988)

Is interparental conflict inherently traumatic?

Frameworks Discussion

Realism of frameworks?

Family Systems Theory

Transmission of Affect

Contingency of Cognitive Style

Genetic Transmission Theory

Trauma TheorySocial Learning

Theory

In school Christina's teachers are noticing that she has become overly sensitive. When Christina (8 years old) encounters small challenges she responds with tears. The other day her classmate Brian told her that she was not welcome at his birthday party because it was for boys only. Christina became overwrought and refused to participate in class activities for the remainder of the day.

At home Christina's parents are in the process of an acrimonious divorce. When Christina's father comes to pick her up, her parents argue loudly in front of Christina, often about Christina herself (e.g. discipline, custody, the origin of her emotional instability, etc.)

Explain the scenario in terms of your framework

Impact of Conflict on Children

Impact on Children

Developmental psychopathology perspective

Systems theoryChildren’s relationships with

ParentsSiblings and extended familyPeers

Alcoholism and DrugsSuicide

Developmental PsychopathologyPerspective

Assumes child’s reactions to a stressor reflects an interaction between the nature of the stressor and the child's developmental capacities to respond to that stressor

Need to look at 3 things:how consequences of marital conflict vary in intensity

and form at different developmental stageshow outcomes are multiply determined rather than

uniquely the result of marital conflictwhether and under what circumstances the risk of

exposure at one age affects later development

Margolin et. al. (2001)

The meaning children place on marital conflict determines how it impacts them and how they develop

This perspective helps us understand why marital conflict does not affect everyone in the same way

No one age group is more vulnerable to marital conflict than another

Children’s relationships – Systems Theory

Good theory to explain the influence of marital conflict on children

Developed from psychiatry and psychotherapy

Circular not linear – e.g. parental behaviour reinforces child’s behaviour which reinforces parental behaviour

The material structure is not what defines an object it is its organization as defined by the patterns of interaction among its parts

Looks at not just the individual but the family tooNegative feedback processPositive feedback process

Children’s Relationships

With Parents

With Siblings & Extended Family

With Peers

With Parents

First need to distinguish between quality and quantity of parenting

Quality suffers because parents may be less sensitive and responsive to needs of child

Spillover HypothesisNegative affect in the marital relationship is

thought to spread to and contaminate or disrupt the interactions between the parents and the child

With Parents

Emotional Security HypothesisThere is a link between marital discord and

less sensitive and responsive parentingChildren do not just react to the occurrence of

marital conflict, but also to the meaning of conflict

Can impede child’s development of emotional regulation skills

Parents may become a source of fear rather than a source of comfort

With Parents

Parental WithdrawalParents may withdraw from children due to

preoccupation with the marital conflictChildren may see this as parental rejection or

disinterest

With Parents

Scapegoating / detouringChild takes on symptoms of family pathology and

becomes identified as the problematic member of the family system

TriangulationOne or both parents try to recruit child into a

coalition against the other parentChild’s relationship with both parents may suffer

With Parents

Learning PerspectiveChildren who respond by involving

themselves in the conflict exhibit higher levels of maladjustment

Adolescents model the parents behaviour and act more aggressively towards parents, especially toward their mother

When child acts out parents stop fighting to deal with the child therefore causing negative reinforcement of the acting out

With Parents

Parental DisciplineParents may exhibit harsh, permissive or

inconsistent discipline

Why?Displaced anger, compensationNo energy to deal with childDisorganized, behaving differently depending

on who’s aroundDifficulty communicating

With Parents

Overt & covert co-parenting

The Compensatory Hypothesis“It is questionable whether a close relationship

fueled by a parent’s negative relationship with his/her spouse is truly positive”

Do you agree or disagree?

With Siblings & Extended Family

Depends on Children’s adjustmentSocial understanding (i.e. individual differences in

reading others)Triangulation

May create differential treatment of children Leads to sibling conflict because children model parents

behaviourIn all families, step and half siblings are not as

close as real siblings In marital conflict families this may be more pronounced

With Peers

Modeling HypothesisConflict impacts peer relationships because it

exposes them to frequent bouts of conflict that the child may imitate when with peers

Cognitive contextual frameworkNeed to understand the properties of conflict,

child’s processing of conflict and overall context of conflict

With Peers

Emotional security hypothesisChildren work to maintain a sense of emotional

well-being that guides their reaction to parental conflict

Children from high conflict families were rated by their teachers as less socially competent, having more conduct problems poor problem solving skills

Extreme Adverse Impacts

Alcoholism & drugsDrinking and drugs plays important adaptive

and functional roleDiverts attention from other areas of conflictProvides elements of stability and predictabilityParents of alcoholics usually emotionally

immature and unstable

Extreme Adverse Impacts

Suicide Family systems theory sees suicide as a

symptom of family dysfunctionAdolescence who commit suicide may be

helping their families avoid painful issues like acceptance of a family member leaving home or diverting from other family conflicts

Outcomes

Factors that impact child adjustment to marital conflict

Categories of Moderating Variables

Three categories of influences on children’s adjustment -

Child VariablesParent VariablesNon-family Variables

Child Variables

CognitiveCausal Attribution

Children who assume stable, continuous, global & externally controlled are more prone to low self esteem, poorer communication with parents & negative affect

Attribution of BlameWhen parents provide an explanation absolving children of

fault for the conflict, children’s perception of self-blame & desire to intervene in future is reduced

Efficacy ExpectationsWhen efficacy high, a child expects to be able to cope with

emotions and use effective behaviours in managing their response to conflict

Child Variables

BehaviouralEmotion Focused - focus on positive,

ascribing blame, altering interpretationProblem Focused - intervene or distract

parents from conflictSuccessful interventions increases the

likelihood that the child will be involved in future conflicts

Child Variables

ContextualDistal factors -

Conflict history as a primer forincreased sensitizationanticipated outcomes

Proximal factors - Children who are depressed or in a negative mood

are more likely to recall negative events and make negative judgements

Child VariablesIndividual / Demographic differences

Temperament“difficult” children react more strongly to marital

problem-solving task• reactivity to stress• influences on behavioural responses• parent-child relationship

Age / DevelopmentChildren of all ages evidence maladjustmentNo single age more or less likely to be affected

GenderBoys - externalizing problems, girls - internalizing

Parent Variables

Parenting strategiesWith partnerWith child

GenderFather-child relationship more vulnerable to

effects of marital conflict than mother-child relationship

Non-family variables

Peer influencesSocial influences

social supportsocial norms & mores

Both child and parent are influenced by external factors

Study 4

Family characteristics as potentiating and protective factors in the association between parental conflict and child functioning

Aim -To identify the family processes that moderate

the link between interparental conflict and child functioning

Study 4 - Hypotheses

Family cohesion, interparental relationship satisfaction and interparental emotional expressiveness will act as protective factors in associations between parental conflict and child maladjustment

The relationship between interpersonal conflict and child emotional insecurity will be weaker for children who experience warm, cohesive, and expressive family relationship

Study 4 - Method

Parental Conflict Child Emotional Insecurity Child Internalizing Symptoms Child External Symptoms Child Behaviour Dysregulation Family Cohesion

Family Instability Interparental Expressiveness Interparental Satisfaction Parent-Child Insecurity Parenting Difficulties

173 parent-child dyads completed survey packets to assess 11 variables:

Study 4 - Results

Statistical regression analysis supports a link between family characteristics and child adjustment

Specifically:Interparental conflict correlated with child insecurity in

the parental relationshipChild insecurity correlated with child’s psychological

symptomsNo effect of adversity in the parent-child relationship

(i.e. parenting difficulties & parent-child insecurity)Link between child insecurity and child maladjustment

weak when high levels of family cohesiveness, parental satisfaction & interpersonal expressiveness

Study 4 - Conclusion

Family cohesiveness, parental satisfaction & interpersonal expressiveness can protect insecure children from suffering maladjustment as a result of interparental conflict

Easy for them to say...

Prevention & Intervention

Prevention

PrenuptialThe transition to parenthoodInfancyChildhoodAdolescenceMarital/couplesDivorce

Intervention

Some forms of conflict can be good because it teaches the child how to deal with and solve their own conflicts

Intervention

I CAN DO programResourceful Adolescent ProgramPrevention and Relationship

Enhancement ProgramChildren of Divorce Intervention ProgramDivorce Education for ParentsChildren in the MiddlePenn Prevention ProgramPositive Adolescent Choices Training

A final thought…

Marital conflict does not cause maladjustment in all children

Dispositional, cognitive and other factors all play a significant role

Children’s and parent’s coping strategies influence the end result of conflict

Successfully handled marital conflict can help foster successful children

As Christina would say…

"One track in particular that I wrote with Linda, it sounds like a twisted lullaby," she continues. "It's about my childhood and past. Not to get too specific, but I've spoken openly about trying to get the word out about domestic violence and child abuse, so one of the songs is really personal. I'm not afraid to do that, because I feel like so many other young people in certain situations like this [can see that] someone coming from that background could grow up and do something so great and use a bad experience and turn it into a good one.

I turned to music originally because of my past and needing a release or an outlet to get out anger or frustration or hurt."

As Christina would say…