Links Between Marital Conflict and Child Social Withdrawl: Mediating Effects of Parenting Behaviors and Moderating Effect of Parental Anxiety and Depression

Abstract

This study utilized a mediation/moderation mixed model to examine the direct and indirect links between marital conflict and children's asocial and excluded behaviors as rated by teachers. The ecological validity of this study was enhanced by using independent raters of children's behavior and direct observations of parenting behavior. The participants (n = 72) in this study were a combination of families with substantiated cases of physical abuse that were referred by a state human services agency and families recruited from the community. Participating children had a mean age of 7.3 years and ranged between 4 and 9 years old. To determine direct effects, marital conflict was assessed using a modified version of the Conflict Tactics Scales. Children's social behaviors were measured by two subscales on the Social Behavior Scale. To calculate indirect effects mediated through parenting behavior, parents and children participated in three 10-minute vignettes that were videotaped and coded. Overall, results supported a direct effects model in which marital conflict predicted 5% of the variance in children's asocial behavior. Asocial behaviors in the classroom were also significantly associated with peer rejection and low engagement on the playground. Although moderation of the relation between marital conflict and the three parenting behavior domains by parental anxiety, depression, and stress was not supported, substantial support was found for the negative impact of parent psychopathology and stress had on parenting behavior. Prevention/intervention efforts for children and parents using a family systems perspective were emphasized.,[superscript Superscript],[subscript Subscript],done.