Abstract
The present research examined relationships involving marital conflict, parenting, and toddler conduct problems. Sixty mother-toddler dyads (30 boys and 30 girls) participated as subjects. Mothers completed measures of general marital satisfaction, overt marital conflict, and toddler conduct problems. Maternal parenting and toddler deviance were assessed during a laboratory observation. Marital conflict was positively correlated with observations of toddler deviance and maternal reports of conduct problems. Marital conflict also correlated positively with the frequency of maternal disapproval statements directed toward sons' misbehaviors and was correlated negatively with the ratio of disapproval statements to daughters' misbehaviors. The present results indicate that marital conflict is associated with toddler conduct problems. The results also suggest the importance of examining parenting practices and child characteristics that may mediate the relationship between marital conflict and child behavior problems.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Belsky, J. (1984). The determinants of parenting: A process model.Child Development, 55, 83–96.
Block, J. H., Block, J., & Morrison, A. (1981). Parental agreement-disagreement on child-rearing orientations and gender-related personality correlates in children.Child Development, 52, 965–974.
Brody, G. H., Pillegrini, A. D., & Segel, I. E. (1986). Marital quality and mother-child and father-child interactions with school-aged children.Developmental Psychology, 22, 291–296.
Cummings, E. M., Iannotti, R. J., & Zahn-Waxler, C. (1985). Influence of conflict between adults on the emotions and aggression of young children.Developmental Psychology, 21, 495–507.
Emery, R. E. (1982). Interparental conflict and the children of discord and divorce.Psychological Bulletin, 92, 310–330.
Emery, R. E., & O'Leary, K. D. (1982). Children's perceptions of marital discord and behavior problems of boys and girls.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 10, 11–24.
Emery, R. E., & O'Leary, K. D. (1984). Marital discord and child behavior problems in a nonclinic sample.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 12, 411–420.
Fagot, B. I. (1984). The consequents of problem behavior in toddler children.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 12, 385–396.
Goldberg, W. A., & Easterbrooks, M. A. (1984). Role of marital quality in toddler development.Developmental Psychology, 20, 504–514.
Hay, D. F., & Ross, H. S. (1982). The social nature of early conflict.Child Development, 53, 105–113.
Johnson, S. M., & Lobitz, G. K. (1974). The personal and marital adjustment of parents as related to observed child deviance and parenting behaviors.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 2, 192–207.
Jouriles, E. N., Barling, J., & O'Leary, K. D. (1987). Predicting child behavior problems in maritally violent families.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 15, 165–173.
Locke, H. J., & Wallace, K. M. (1959). Short marital adjustment and prediction tests: Their reliability and validity.Marriage and Family Living, 21, 251–255.
Loeber, R. (1982). The stability of antisocial and delinquent child behavior: A review.Child Development, 53, 1431–1446.
Maccoby, E. E., & Martin, J. A. (1983). Socialization in the context of the family: Parentchild interaction. In P. H. Mussen (Ed.),Handbook of child psychology: Socialization, personality, and social development (pp. 1–101). New York: Wiley.
O'Leary, K. D., & Emery, R. E. (1984). Marital discord and child behavior problems. In M. D. Levine & P. Satz (Eds.),Developmental variation and dysfunction. New York: Academic Press.
O'Leary, K. D., & Turkewitz, H. (1978). Methodological errors in marital and child treatment research.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 46, 747–758.
Oltmanns, T. F., Broderick, J. E., & O'Leary, K. D. (1977). Marital adjustment and the efficacy of behavior therapy with children.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 45, 724–729.
Olweus, D. (1979). Stability of aggressive reaction patterns in males: A review.Psychological Bulletin, 86, 852–875.
Parke, R. D. (1969). Effectiveness of punishment as an interaction of intensity, timing, agent nurturance, and cognitive structuring.Child Development, 40, 213–235.
Patterson, G. R. (1982). Coercive family process. Eugene, Oregon: Castalia.
Pfiffner, L. J., & O'Leary, S. G. (1987).Effects of maternal discipline and nurturance on toddler behavior and affect. Unpublished manuscript, State University of New York at Stony Brook.
Porter, B., & O'Leary, K. D. (1980). Marital discord and childhood behavior problems.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 8, 287–295.
Power, T. G., & Chapieski, M. L. (1986). Childrearing and impulse control in toddlers: A naturalistic investigation.Developmental Psychology, 22, 271–275.
Richman, N., Stevenson, J., & Graham, P. (1982).Preschool to school: A behavioral study. London: Academic Press.
Rutter, M. (1971). Parent-child separation: Psychological effects on the children.Journal of Child Psychology, and Psychiatry, 12, 233–260.
Sullivan, M., & O'Leary, S. G. (1986).Toddler problem checklist. Unpublished manuscript, State University of New York at Stony Brook.
Wallerstein, J. S., & Kelly, J. B. (1980).Surviving the breakup, New York: Basic Books.
Whitehead, L. (1979). Sex differences in children's responses to family stress: A re-evaluation.Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines, 20, 247–254.
Wolfe, D. A., Jaffe, P., Wilson, S. K., & Zak, L. (1985). Children of battered women: The relation of child behavior to family violence and maternal stress.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 53, 657–665.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This research was supported, in part by a Sigma XI grant to the second author.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jouriles, E.N., Pfiffner, L.J. & O'Leary, S.G. Marital conflict, parenting, and toddler conduct problems. J Abnorm Child Psychol 16, 197–206 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00913595
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00913595