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Predicting change in adolescent adjustment from change in marital problems
Ming Cui1, Rand D Conger, Frederick O Lorenz
1Institute for Social and Behavioral Research, Iowa State University, Ames, 50010, USA. mcui@iastate.edu
Developmental Psychology
|September 22, 2005
Summary
Changes in parental marital problems, including distress and conflict, significantly impact adolescent adjustment over time. Increases in marital issues correlate with worsening adjustment in teenagers.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Family Studies
- Adolescent Health
Background:
- Parental marital problems are linked to adolescent adjustment issues.
- Previous research indicates a connection, but longitudinal data on changing marital problems is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if changes in marital problems predict changes in adolescent adjustment.
- To control for socioeconomic status and other marital issues in the analysis.
Main Methods:
- Prospective, longitudinal study design.
- Involved 451 adolescents and their parents over 5 years.
- Utilized latent growth curve modeling.
Main Results:
- Increases in marital distress and conflict predicted increases in adolescent adjustment problems.
- Decreases in marital distress and conflict predicted decreases in adolescent adjustment problems.
- Marital distress increases were as detrimental to adolescent adjustment as marital conflict increases.
Conclusions:
- Dynamic changes in marital problems are significant predictors of adolescent adjustment trajectories.
- Interventions addressing parental marital distress and conflict may improve adolescent well-being.