RELATION AMONG MARITAL CONFLICT, CHILD COPING, AND CHILD ADJUSTMENT

Examined the relation among marital conflict children's coping respons es to parents' marital conflict, and child adjustment. Eighty-three fa milies participated in this investigation Preadolescent children repor ted on the frequency and intensity of interparental conflict they witn essed; the strategies they used to cope with their parents' marital co nflict; and their symptoms of depression, anxiety, and hostility, and their self-esteem. Mothers and fathers reported on children's hostilit y, and internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. Results indi cate that children's use of coping strategies that involve them in par ents' marital conflict is predictive of child reports of increased lev els of child maladjustment, whereas use of coping strategies that dist ance children from parents' marital conflict is predictive of child re ports of decreased levels of child maladjustment Children's use of cop ing strategies that activate social support is predictive of mother re ports of decreased levels of child maladjustment.