1. Exposure to Constructive and Destructive Interparental Conflict and Its Relationship to Interpersonal Functioning
- Author
-
Shainheit, Carolyn R.
- Subjects
- Clinical Psychology, Marital Conflict, Emotional Security, Interpersonal Functioning
- Abstract
Conflict is an inevitable component of marital relationships. However, conflict can occur in constructive or destructive forms, each of which impacts children exposed to these conflicts in different ways. Previous research suggests that children's exposure to interparental conflict is associated with later psychological adjustment, with exposure to constructive conflict being related to healthy (or positive) functioning and exposure to destructive conflict being linked to maladaptation. Importantly, much of the prior research has explored children's adjustment in terms of externalizing and internalizing problems, neglecting other indicators of adjustment such as interpersonal/relational functioning. Grounded in interpersonal theory, the present study examines how exposure to parents' constructive or destructive conflicts relates to individuals' interpersonal/relational adjustment. Structural equation modeling was used to explore the relationships among exposure to constructive and destructive interparental conflict, emotional insecurity, and interpersonal functioning. It was found that exposure to constructive interparental conflict predicted reduced emotional insecurity, while exposure to destructive interparental conflict predicted greater emotional insecurity. Exposure to both constructive and destructive interparental conflict directly predicted fewer interpersonal problems related to hostile dominance, as well as greater capacities for empathic connection. Exposure to constructive and destructive interparental conflict did not directly predict interpersonal problems related to friendly submission, or the adaptive outcome of relationship security. Emotional insecurity fully mediated the relationships between constructive and destructive interparental conflict and relationship security. Also, emotional insecurity partially mediated the relationships among constructive and destructive interparental conflict and interpersonal problems due to hostile dominance, and fully mediated the relationships among constructive and destructive interparental conflict and friendly submission. Finally, it was found that gender moderated the two models. Men who were exposed to parents' destructive conflicts and who also reported greater emotional insecurity were more likely to act out in aggressive, hostile, controlling and dominant ways. Suggestions for marital and family interventions designed to promote more constructive conflict management and to foster emotional security within the family are provided.
- Published
- 2015