Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 20, 2025

Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure
Published on: September 19, 2019
Adolescent-Reported Interparental Conflict and Related Emotional-Behavioral Difficulties: The Mediating Role of
Ludovica Giani1, Cecilia Amico1, Chiara Crepaldi1
1Child & Youth Lab, Department of Psychology, Sigmund Freud University of Milan, Ripa di Porta Ticinese 77, 20143 Milano, Italy.
Background/Objectives:
Interparental conflict, with its multiple dimensions, represents a risk factor for youth mental health, triggering a series of cascading processes. Despite recent evidence highlighting that psychological inflexibility is a risk factor for adolescents' psychopathology after stressful events, a limited number of studies have investigated its role in family conflicts. This study aims to investigate whether psychological inflexibility mediates the impact of conflict characteristics (intensity, frequency, and resolution) and threat appraisal of interparental conflict on the psychological difficulties of adolescent offspring.
Methods:
A sample of 195 adolescents aged between 15 and 19 years old completed the Children's Perception of Interparental Conflict Scale, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and the Avoidance and Fusion Questionnaire for Youth on Google Forms.
Results:
The findings revealed that adolescents living in a family environment characterized by high levels of perceived interparental conflicts exhibit a wide spectrum of psychological difficulties, either emotional or behavioral, partially mediated by their psychological inflexibility. However, when conflict between parents is interpreted as threatening, adolescents' inflexibility appears to mediate the relationship between conflict and psychological difficulties.
Conclusions:
While future studies are needed to better understand this association, psychological flexibility might represent a relevant treatment target in adolescents exposed to interparental conflict.
Related Concept Videos
Parenting Styles
Authoritarian Parenting
This style is strict and controlling, with little room for open dialogue. Authoritarian parents demand obedience and often enforce rules with minimal warmth. Children raised this way may lack social skills and initiative, usually comparing themselves to others unfavorably.
Authoritative...
Adler's Individual Psychology
Erikson's Theory on Socioemotional Development during Adolescence
Influence of Parents and Peers on Identity
Parental Influence on Identity Development
Parents serve as primary guides and managers in an adolescent's life, offering support instrumental in decision-making and personal growth....
Socioemotional Development during Infancy
Primary Temperament Types
Cognitive Development During Adolescence

