Continued high or reduced interparental conflict following divorce: Relation to young adolescent adjustment.

Three groups of young adolescent subjects were compared on several measures of adjustment in the school setting. The three groups of subjects included (a) a group from recently divorced families in which high levels of interparental conflict prior to parental separation and after the divorce had been reported, (b) a group from recently divorced families in which high levels of interparental conflict prior to parental separation but low levels after the divorce had been reported, and (c) a comparison group from intact families. Adolescents from the first group were found to be functioning at a lower level than those from the other two groups. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Young adolescent and maternal depression: Assessment, interrelations, and family predictors.

The present study examined (a) the relation between self-report and behavioral ratings of depression for young adolescents and their mothers; (b) the relation between adolescent and maternal depression; and (c) family correlates and predictors of adolescent and maternal depression. Sixty-nine nonclinic adolescents and their mothers completed self-report measures and participated in two behavioral observations 1 year apart. Self-report and behavioral-rating measures of depression were related for mothers but not for adolescents, and maternal depression and adolescent depression were not related to one another. In addition, marital conflict predicted maternal depression as measured by both self-reports and behavioral ratings, whereas parent–adolescent conflict predicted only self-reported adolescent depression. The differences found between maternal and adolescent depression are discussed, and the findings are contrasted with those reported for clinically depressed mothers and children. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Early adolescent adjustment to recent parental divorce: The role of interparental conflict and adolescent sex as mediating variables.

The present study examined the 1st-year postdivorce functioning of young adolescents and the role of interparental conflict and adolescent sex as mediating variables for divorce effects. Ninety-six adolescents were assigned to one of eight groups based on parent's marital status, interparental conflict (high vs. low), and adolescent sex. Teacher-completed measures and behavioral observations were used to assess social and social withdrawal behavior, cognitive functioning, and externalizing problems. Marital status did not exert a significant main effect on any of the dependent measures, and sex of adolescent did not serve as a mediating variable. Interparental conflict exerted a significant main effect on social and social withdrawal behavior and, for cognitive functioning, interacted with marital status such that adolescents from divorced, high-conflict homes performed less well than other adolescents. The relative roles of divorce and interparental conflict in adolescent functioning are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Parenting in a broader context: A reply to Emery, Fincham, and Cummings (1992).

In their comment on the authors' (see record 1992-43921-001) discussion of the role of the family in child psychotherapy, R. E. Emery et al (see record 1993-14493-001) took issue with the emphasis on the mediational role of parenting practices and the importance of parenting as a focus of treatment. In response, it is emphasized that the aim was not to offer a comprehensive analysis of etiological factors in child psychopathology but rather to provide some practical research-based guidelines for child therapists. In addition, an attempt is made to clarify some areas of possible confusion, including the meaning of contextual variables, parenting as the appropriate focus of treatment, assumptions about what is meant by parenting, and differences in conceptualizations of intervention in family process. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Role of maternal functioning and parenting skills in adolescent functioning following parental divorce.

While divorce has been associated with impaired child functioning, the mechanisms within the divorce process leading to such an outcome have rarely been examined. The following hypothesis was examined: Divorce is associated with poor parental adjustment or disrupts parenting behavior, or both, which leads to poor adolescent functioning. Subjects were 121 and 93 young adolescents from intact and recently divorced families, respectively, and their mothers and teachers. Mothers completed measures assessing parental conflict and depression, observers coded parenting skills during a mother–adolescent interaction, and teachers completed measures assessing adolescent functioning. Although the magnitude of differences was not large, analyses of variance indicated that the divorced sample was functioning poorer than the married sample on all measures except interparental conflict. Path analysis suggested that parental functioning and parenting skills play a role in adolescent functioning following divorce. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)