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Interpersonal mediators in the intergenerational transmission of marital dysfunction
Lisa B Story1, Benjamin R Karney, Erika Lawrence
1Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1563, USA.
Summary
Experiences in a parent's family influence future marital success. Parental divorce in wives predicted poorer marital outcomes through aggression, while family negativity in husbands predicted poorer outcomes via negative affect.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Family Studies
Background:
- Marital functioning is influenced by familial experiences.
- Understanding intergenerational patterns is crucial for relationship science.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the intergenerational transmission of marital functioning.
- To identify mediators linking family of origin experiences to marital outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective reports of family of origin conflict and divorce.
- Data on demographic variables and interactional processes.
- Longitudinal assessment of 4-year marital outcomes in 60 newlywed couples.
Main Results:
- Wives' parental divorce predicted poorer marital outcomes, mediated by verbal and physical aggression.
- Husbands' family of origin negativity predicted poorer marital outcomes, mediated by dyadic negative affect.
- Demographic variables did not mediate these associations.
Conclusions:
- Negative interpersonal processes transmit family of origin experiences to subsequent generations.
- Aggression and negative affect are key mechanisms in the intergenerational transmission of marital dysfunction.