A longitudinal study of interparental conflict, emotional and behavioral reactivity, and preschoolers' adjustment problems among low-income families

Researchers have begun to develop models that explain the processes by whic h interparental conflict impacts children's adjustment. The present study t ested a model based on emotional security theory. The longitudinal relation s among interparental conflict, boys' reactions to conflict, and internaliz ing and externalizing problems were examined in a sample of 129 mother-son dyads from low-income, 2-parent families from the time sons were age 2 to 5 . Results indicated that children exposed to interparental conflict were mo re likely to have concurrent and later behavior problems and that patterns of interparental conflict across time made unique contributions in predicti ng later problems. Children's emotional reactivity in response to conflict had no direct relation to interparental conflict and only modest relations to behavior problems. However, interparental conflict and reactivity factor s interacted to predict behavior problems at ages 3 1/2 and 5. Thus, some s upport was demonstrated for emotional reactivity as a moderator in the deve lopment of young children's behavior problems.