Domains of Ongoing Communication Between Former Spouses: Associations With Parenting Stress and Children’s Post-Divorce Well-Being

Using data from 708 divorced parents (52.4% mothers), we examined how ongoing communication (i.e., topics and frequency of communication) with former spouses was associated with parenting stress and child internalizing and externalizing behavior. Based on hierarchical multiple regression models, ongoing communication was not associated with parenting stress but was associated with child externalizing and internalizing behavior. Specifically, communicating about sex/romance was associated with more child externalizing behavior. Communication about self and family and communication about sex/romance were associated with more, but coparenting communication with less, child internalizing behavior. Overall, the results support recent suggestions by family scientists and clinicians that divorced parents should limit their communication to shared parenting issues. Discussing non-coparenting topics may lead to a post-divorce family system that undermines children’s well-being. Talking about having a sexual or romantic relationship with their former spouses may be harmful for children’s well-being.

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Child Externalizing and Internalizing Behavior and Parental Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic

10.14324/111.444/000093.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jill Portnoy ◽

AnaCristina Bedoya ◽

Keri Ka-Yee Wong

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Parental Stress ◽

Externalizing Behavior ◽

Social Trust ◽

Parental Depression ◽

Well Being ◽

Internalizing Behavior ◽

Relationship Conflict ◽

Health Study ◽

Child Externalizing

In this study we surveyed families’ experiences with parental depression, stress, relationship conflict, and child behavioral issues during six months of the COVID-19 pandemic through the COVID-19: Global Social Trust and Mental Health Study. The current analyses used data collected from online surveys completed by adults in 66 countries from April 17, 2020-July 14, 2020 (Wave I), followed by surveys six months later at Wave II (October 17, 2020-January 31, 2021). Analyses were limited to 175 adult parents who reported living with at least one child under 18 years old at Wave I. Parents reported on children’s level of externalizing and internalizing behavior at Wave I. At Wave II, parents completed self-reported measures of stress, depression, and inter-partner conflict. Child externalizing behavior at Wave I significantly predicted higher levels of parental stress and marginally predicted parental depression at Wave II, controlling for covariates. Child internalizing behavior at Wave I did not predict parental stress or depression, controlling for covariates. Neither child externalizing nor internalizing behavior predicted parental relationship conflict. The overall findings demonstrate that child behavior likely influenced parental stress and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings suggest that mental health interventions for children and parents may improve the family system during times of disaster.

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Child Externalizing and Internalizing Behavior and Parental Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic

10.31234/osf.io/4tpsr ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jill Portnoy ◽

AnaCristina Bedoya ◽

Keri Ka-Yee Wong

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Parental Stress ◽

Externalizing Behavior ◽

Social Trust ◽

Parental Depression ◽

Well Being ◽

Internalizing Behavior ◽

Relationship Conflict ◽

Health Study ◽

Child Externalizing

Author Notes**This manuscript has been submitted for publication and is likely to be edited as part of the peer-review process. Correspondence regarding this paper should be addressed to Keri Ka-Yee Wong, [email protected].** AbstractIn this study we surveyed families’ experiences with parental depression, stress, relationship conflict, and child behavioral issues during six months of the COVID-19 pandemic through the COVID-19: Global Social Trust and Mental Health Study. The current analyses used data collected from online surveys completed by adults in 66 countries from April 17, 2020-July 14, 2020 (Wave I), followed by surveys six months later at Wave II (October 17, 2020-January 31, 2021). Analyses were limited to 175 adult parents who reported living with at least one child under 18 years old at Wave I. Parents reported on children’s level of externalizing and internalizing behavior at Wave I. At Wave II, parents completed self-reported measures of stress, depression, and inter-partner conflict. Child externalizing behavior at Wave I significantly predicted higher levels of parental stress and marginally predicted parental depression at Wave II, controlling for covariates. Child internalizing behavior at Wave I did not predict parental stress or depression, controlling for covariates. Neither child externalizing nor internalizing behavior predicted parental relationship conflict. The overall findings demonstrate that child behavior likely influenced parental stress and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings suggest that mental health interventions for children and parents may improve the family system during times of disaster.

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Contact with biological parents following placement in foster care: Associations with preschool child externalizing behavior

Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/13591045211049295 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 135910452110492

Author(s):

Karine Poitras ◽

George M. Tarabulsy ◽

Natalia Varela Pulido

Keyword(s):

Foster Care ◽

Behavior Problems ◽

Externalizing Behavior ◽

Foster Parents ◽

Foster Parent ◽

Externalizing Behavior Problems ◽

Foster Child ◽

Child Externalizing Behavior ◽

Biological Parents ◽

Child Externalizing

Externalizing behavior problems are a salient issue in the context of child protection services, where associations with placement stability and caregiving behavior have been documented. Moreover, although research on the association between contact with biological parents and foster child externalizing behavior problems is scarce and has yielded mixed results, several studies have shown links between the two variables. The purpose of this study is to determine the association of face-to-face contact with biological parents and externalized behaviors, while taking into account placement instability and foster parent interactive sensitivity. Fifty preschoolers and their foster parents were visited at home. Child externalizing behavior problems were self-reported by foster parents, foster parent sensitivity was measured via play observations, and information relative to placement was collected through interviews with biological parents and gathered from social services data. Results reveal that more frequent contact with biological parents and lower levels of foster parent sensitivity are independently linked to greater levels of externalizing behavior problems even after controlling for placement instability. Discussion focuses on the importance of children’s relationship experiences during foster care and the necessity to investigate their role to more clearly understand foster child socioemotional development.

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Maternal responses to negative emotions and child externalizing behavior: Different relations for 5-, 6-, and 7-year-olds

Social Development ◽

10.1111/sode.12296 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 27 (3) ◽

pp. 482-494 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Jackie A. Nelson ◽

Brittany P. Boyer

Keyword(s):

Externalizing Behavior ◽

Negative Emotions ◽

Child Externalizing Behavior ◽

Maternal Responses ◽

Child Externalizing

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Attachment Style and the Association of Spanking and Child Externalizing Behavior

Academic Pediatrics ◽

10.1016/j.acap.2019.06.017 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (4) ◽

pp. 501-507 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Kaitlin P. Ward ◽

Shawna J. Lee ◽

Garrett T. Pace ◽

Andrew Grogan-Kaylor ◽

Julie Ma

Keyword(s):

Attachment Style ◽

Externalizing Behavior ◽

Child Externalizing Behavior ◽

Child Externalizing

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Maternal Affection Moderates the Associations Between Parenting Stress and Early Adolescents’ Externalizing and Internalizing Behavior

The Journal of Early Adolescence ◽

10.1177/0272431619833490 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 40 (2) ◽

pp. 221-248 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Gintautas Silinskas ◽

Noona Kiuru ◽

Kaisa Aunola ◽

Riitta-Leena Metsäpelto ◽

Marja-Kristiina Lerkkanen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Secondary School ◽

Primary School ◽

Parenting Stress ◽

Externalizing Behavior ◽

Early Adolescents ◽

Moderating Effect ◽

Internalizing Behavior ◽

Lower Secondary School

The present study investigated the role of parenting stress in early adolescents’ externalizing and internalizing behavior and, particularly, the moderating effect of maternal affection on these associations. The data of 992 early adolescents ([Formula: see text]; 454 girls) and their mothers during the transition from primary school to lower secondary school were analyzed. The results showed that when maternal affection was low, parenting stress was not related to the changes in early adolescents’ externalizing or internalizing behavior. In contrast, when maternal affection was high, low parenting stress related to a decrease and high parenting stress to an increase in such behavior. The results were statistically significant and stronger for internalizing behavior; for externalizing behavior, they were marginally significant but showed the same pattern. Overall, the results support the idea that maternal affection provides a context which intensifies (rather than ameliorates) the influence of parenting stress on early adolescents’ externalizing and internalizing behavior.

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