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Child-related disagreements, verbal aggression, and children's internalizing and externalizing behavior problems
Catherine M Lee1, Christine Beauregard, Karen A Bax
1Centre for Psychological Services, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada. cmlee@uottawa.ca
Summary
Child-rearing disagreements correlate with behavior problems in young children. For mothers, verbal aggression mediates the link between disagreements and sons
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Family Studies
- Child Psychology
Background:
- Parental disagreements on child-rearing are common.
- These disagreements may impact child behavior.
- Previous research focused on specific parent-child dyads.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between child-related disagreements and child behavior problems.
- To investigate the role of parental verbal aggression in this relationship.
- To extend findings to daughters and fathers in a low-risk sample.
Main Methods:
- 122 dual-income couples with children aged 18-60 months participated.
- Parents completed the Child-Rearing Disagreements Scale.
- Parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist and a verbal aggression scale.
Main Results:
- Child-related disagreements were linked to child behavior problems.
- No link was found between fathers' verbal aggression and child behavior.
- Mothers' verbal aggression mediated the link between disagreements and sons' internalizing problems.
Conclusions:
- Parental child-rearing disagreements are associated with child behavior issues.
- Verbal aggression by mothers plays a mediating role in sons' internalizing problems.
- Findings highlight the complex interplay between parental conflict and child adjustment.