The Association of Marital Conflict on Kindergarten Externalizing Problems in the Context of Fathers' Alcohol Use Disorder
Open Access
- Author:
- Evans, Kelsey
- Area of Honors:
- Psychology
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Rina Das Eiden, Thesis Supervisor
Sarah Myruski, Thesis Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- fathers' alcohol problems
marital conflict
maternal warmth/sensitivity
child biological sex
aggressive behaviors
fathers' alcohol problems
marital conflict
maternal warmth/sensitivity
child biological sex
aggressive behaviors - Abstract:
- This study tested a conceptual model examining independent associations between marital conflict in early childhood (12-24 months) and fathers’ alcohol problems on parent and teacher reported aggression problems at kindergarten age among children of fathers with alcohol abuse and dependence, and a demographically similar comparison group. Two hundred twenty-seven families were assessed over four time points when the children were 12-, 18-, 24-, 36-, 48-months old, and at kindergarten age. Marital conflict, parent alcohol problems, maternal warmth/sensitivity, and child aggression were measured during the time points. Higher experiences of marital conflict during early childhood were hypothesized to have increased behavioral problems (aggression) in kindergarten. Lastly, the association between marital conflict and child aggression was hypothesized to be stronger for males and for children experiencing low maternal warmth/sensitivity. Correlational testing and ANOVAs supported the direct association between high marital conflict and high parental reports of child kindergarten aggression, as well as the direct association between high paternal alcohol problems and high parental reports of child kindergarten aggression. Teacher aggression reports did not have a direct association with marital conflict nor fathers’ alcohol problems. However, child gender and maternal warmth/sensitivity did not moderate these associations. The study explains developmental processes in connecting aggressive behaviors, marital conflict, and the role of parents' alcoholism and associated risk factors in this process.