This retrospective study assessed the interacting relationships between child behavior
problems, marital satisfaction, maternal depression, and family cohesion in 43 mothers and
school-aged boys from a clinical sample. Mothers rated their child's behavior, marital
satisfaction, level of depression, and perceived family cohesion. Results suggest that
mothers with depressive symptoms report lower levels of marital satisfaction and higher
levels of child behavior problems. Findings also suggest that maternal depression acts as a
mediating mechanism for child behavior. In addition, marital dissatisfaction is related to
lower levels of family cohesion. A discussion of the findings is presented, followed by
implications for future research and clinical practice from a family systems
perspective.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Achenbach, T.M.
(1991). Manual for the Child Behavior Checklist 4-18 and 1991
profile. Burlington: University of Vermont,
Department of Psychiatry.
2.
Bandura, A.
(1977). Social learning theory. Englewood
Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
3.
Barrett, P.M.
,
Dadds, M.R.
, &
Rapee, R.M.
(1996).
Family treatment of childhood anxiety: A controlled trial
. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64,
333-342.
4.
Beck, A.T.
,
Steer, R.A.
, &
Garbin, M.G.
(1988).
Psychometric properties of the Beck Depression Inventory: Twenty-five years of
evaluation
. Clinical Psychology Review, 8(1),
77-100.
5.
Beck, A.T.
,
Ward, C.H.
,
Mendelson, M.
,
Mock, J.
, &
Erbaugh, J.
(1961).
An inventory for measuring depression
. Archives of General Psychiatry, 4,
561-571.
6.
Bradbury, T.N.
,
Fincham, F.D.
, &
Beach, S.R.H.
(2000).
Research on the nature and determinants of marital quality: A decade in review
. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 62(4),
964-980.
7.
Christensen, A.
,
Phillips, S.
,
Glasgow, R.E.
, &
Johnson, S.M.
(1983).
Parental characteristics and interactional dysfunction in families with child
behavior problems: A preliminary investigation
. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 11,
153-166.
8.
Cowan, P.A.
, &
Cowan, C.P.
(1990). Becoming a family: Research and intervention. In
I. Sigel
&
A. Brody
(Eds.), Family transitions (pp. 79-110).
Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence
Erlbaum.
9.
Cummings, E.M.
, &
Davies, P.T.
(1992). Parental depression, family functioning, and child
adjustment: Risk factors, processes, and pathways. In
D. Cicchetti
, &
S.L. Toth
(Eds.), Developmental perspectives on depression (pp.
283-322). New York:
University of Rochester Press.
10.
Cummings, E.M.
, &
Davies, P.T.
(1994). Children and marital conflict: The impact on family dispute
and resolution. New York:
Guilford.
11.
Cummings, E.M.
,
Davies, P.T.
, &
Simpson, K.S.
(1994).
Marital conflict, gender, and children's appraisals and coping efficacy as mediators
of child adjustment
. Journal of Family Psychology, 8(2),
141-149.
12.
Cummings, E.M.
,
Iannotti, R.J.
, &
Zahn-Waxler, C.
(1985).
Influence of conflict between adults on the emotions and aggression of young
children
. Developmental Psychology, 21(3),
495-507.
13.
Dadds, M.R.
,
Schwartz, S.
, &
Sanders, M.R.
(1987).
Marital discord and treatment outcome in behavioral treatment of child conduct
disorders
. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 55,
396-403.
14.
Davies, P.T.
,
Myers, R.L.
, &
Cummings, E.M.
(1996).
Responses of children and adolescents to marital conflict scenarios as a function of
the emotionality of conflict endings
. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 42,
1-21.
15.
Dehle, C.
, &
Weiss, R.L.
(1998).
Sex differences in prospective associations between marital quality and depressed
mood
. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 60,
1002-1011.
16.
Downey, G.
, &
Coyne, J.C.
(1990).
Children of depressed parents: An integrative review
. Psychological Bulletin, 108,
50-76.
17.
Emery, R.E.
,&
O'Leary, K.D.
(1982).
Children's perceptions of marital discord and behavior problems of boys and
girls
. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 10,
11-24.
18.
Erel, O.
, &
Burman, B.
(1995).
Interrelatedness of marital relations and parent-child relations: A meta-analytic
review
. Psychological Bulletin, 118,
108-132.
19.
Ethington, C.A.
,
Thomas, S.L.
, &
Pike, G.R.
(in press). Back to the basics: Regression as it should
be. In
John C. Smart
(Ed.), Higher education: Handbook of theory and research (Vol. 7).
New York: Agathon
Press.
20.
Fincham, F.D.
,
Grych, J.H.
, &
Osborne, L.N.
(1994).
Does marital conflict cause child maladjustment? Directions and challenges for
longitudinal research
. Journal of Family Psychology, 8(2),
128-140.
21.
Fincham, F.D.
, &
Osborne, L.N.
(1993).
Marital conflict and children: Retrospect and prospect
. Clinical Psychology Review, 13,
75-88.
22.
Fishman, E.A.
, &
Meyers, S.A.
(2000).
Marital quality and child adjustment: Direct and mediated pathways
. Contemporary Family Therapy, 22(4),
437-452.
23.
Gottman, J.M.
, &
Katz, L.
(1989).
Effects of marital discord on young children's peer interaction and health
. Developmental Psychology, 25,
373-381.
24.
Grych, J.H.
, &
Fincham, F.D.
(1990).
Marital conflict and children's adjustment: A cognitive-contextual framework
. Psychological Bulletin, 108,
267-290.
25.
Grych, J.H.
, &
Fincham, F.D.
(1993).
Children's appraisals of marital conflict: Initial investigations of the
cognitive-contextual framework
. Child Development, 64,
215-230.
26.
Harold, G.T.
, &
Conger, R.D.
(1997).
Marital conflict and adolescent distress: The role of adolescent awareness
. Child Development, 68,
333-350.
27.
Harold, G.T.
,
Fincham, F.D.
,
Osborne, L.N.
, &
Conger, R.D.
(1997).
Mom and dad are at it again: Adolescent perceptions of marital conflict and
adolescent psychological distress
. Developmental Psychology, 33,
333-350.
28.
Harrist, A.W.
, &
Ainslie, R.C.
(1998).
Marital discord and child behavior problems
. Journal of Family Issues, 19,
140-163.
29.
Heppner, P.P.
,
Kivlighan, D.M.
, &
Wampold, B.E.
(1992). Research design in counseling.
Pacific Grove, CA:
Brooks/Cole.
30.
Jacob, T.
, &
Johnson, S.L.
(1997).
Parent-child interaction among depressed fathers and mothers: Impact on child
functioning
. Journal of Family Psychology, 11(4),
391-409.
31.
Johnston, C.
, &
Pelham, W.E.
(1990).
Maternal characteristics, ratings of child behavior, and mother-child interactions in
families of children with externalizing disorders
. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 18(4),
407-417.
32.
Johnston, J.R.
(1993). Family transitions and children's functioning: The case of
parental conflict and divorce. In
P. Cowan
,
D. Field
,
D. Hansen
,
A. Skolnik
, &
G. Swanson
(Eds.), Family, self, and society: Toward a new agenda for family research
(pp. 197-234). Hillsdale, NJ:
Lawrence Erlbaum.
Karney, B.R.
, &
Bradbury, T.N.
(1995).
The longitudinal course of marital quality and stability: A review of theory, method,
and research
. Psychological Bulletin, 118,
3-34.
35.
Katz, L.F.
, &
Gottman, J.M.
(1993).
Patterns of marital conflict predict children's internalizing and externalizing
behaviors
. Developmental Psychology, 29(6),
940-950.
36.
Kerig, P.K.
(1995).
Triangles in the family circle: Effects of family structure on marriage, parenting,
and child adjustment
. Journal of Family Psychology, 9(1),
28-43.
37.
Kerig, P.K.
(1998).
Moderators and mediators of the effects of interparental conflict on children's
adjustment
. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 26(3),
199-212.
38.
Krain, A.L.
, &
Kendall, P.C.
(2000).
The role of parental emotional distress in parent report of child anxiety
. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 29(3),
328-335.
39.
Kurdek, L.A.
(1996).
Parenting satisfaction and marital satisfaction in mothers and fathers with young
children
. Journal of Family Psychology, 10(3),
331-342.
40.
Lindahl, K.M.
, &
Malik, N.M.
(1999).
Observations of marital conflict and power: Relations with parenting triad
. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 61(2),
320-331.
41.
Locke, H.J.
, &
Wallace, K.M.
(1959).
Short marital-adjustment and prediction tests: Their reliability and validity
. Marriage and Family Living, 21,
251-255.
42.
Margolin, G.
,
Christensen, A.
, &
John, R.S.
(1996).
The continuance and spillover of everyday tensions in distressed and nondistressed
families
. Journal of Family Psychology, 10,
304-321.
43.
Miller, N.B.
,
Cowan, P.A.
,
Cowan, C.P.
,
Hetherington, E.M.
, &
Clingempeel, W.G.
(1993).
Externalizing in preschoolers and early adolescents: A cross-study replication of a
family model
. Developmental Psychology, 29,
3-18.
44.
Minuchin, S.
(1974). Families and family therapy.
Cambridge, MA: Harvard University
Press.
45.
Moffitt, T.E.
(1993).
Adolescence-limited and life-course-persistent antisocial behavior: A developmental
taxonomy
. Psychological Review, 100(4),
674-701.
O'Leary, K.D.
(1987). Assessment of marital discord.
Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence
Erlbaum.
48.
Owen, M.T.
, &
Cox, M.J.
(1997).
Marital conflict and the development of infant-parent attachment relationships
. Journal of Family Psychology, 11,
152-164.
49.
Prinz, R.J.
,
Connor, P.A.
, &
Wilson, C.C.
(1981).
Hyperactive and aggressive behaviors in childhood: Intertwined dimensions
. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 9(2),
191-202.
50.
Sayger, T.V.
, &
Horne, A.M.
(2000). Common elements in family therapy theory and
strategies. In
A.M. Horne
(Ed.), Family counseling and therapy (pp. 41-61).
Itasca, IL: F.E.
Peacock.
51.
Sayger, T.V.
,
Horne, A.M.
, &
Glaser, B.A.
(1993).
Marital satisfaction and social learning family therapy for child conduct problems:
Generalization of treatment effects
. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 19(4),
393-402.
52.
Stormshak, E.A.
,
Speltz, M.L.
,
DeKlyen, M.
, &
Greenberg, M.T.
(1997).
Observed family interaction during clinical interviews: A comparison of families
containing preschool boys with and without disruptive behaviors
. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 25(5),
345-357.
53.
Vandewater, E.A.
, &
Lansford, J.E.
(1998).
Influence of family structure and parental conflict on children's well-being
. Family Relations, 47,
323-330.
54.
Wachtel, E.F.
(1994). Treating troubled children and their families.
New York:
Guilford.
