CULTURE, PARENTAL CONFLICT, PARENTAL MARITAL-STATUS, AND THE SUBJECTIVE WELL-BEING OF YOUNG-ADULTS

We examined the association between parental marital status, marital c onflict, and culture (individualism-collectivism, divorce rate), and t he subjective, rr ell-being of young adults. Study I assessed 2,625,me n and 4,118 women from 39 countries on, 6 continents. Subjective well- being Ic?ns negatively associated with marital conflict among offsprin g of never-divorced and remarried parents. The association of marital status and the subjective well-being of offspring differed across indi vidualism-collectivism and divorce rate. Collectivism lessens the impa ct of divorce after a high-conflict marriage and the impact of marital conflict when a parent remarries. Study 2 examined the association of parental marital status and conflict among 76 adopted and 87 nonadopt ed young adults. The negative association of divorce and of marital co nflict with? the life satisfaction of the offspring did not differ by adoption. The selection hypothesis was not,supported.