The additive and interactive effects of parenting and temperament in predicting adjustment problems of children of divorce

Investigated the interaction between parenting and temperament in predictin g adjustment problems in children of divorce. The study utilized a sample o f 231 mothers and children, 9 to 12 years old, who had experienced divorce within the previous 2 years. Both mothers' and children's reports on parent ing, temperament, and adjustment variables were obtained and combined to cr eate cross-reporter measures of the variables. Parenting and temperament we re directly and independently related to outcomes consistent with an additi ve model of their effects. Significant interactions indicated that parental rejection was more strongly related to adjustment problems for children lo w in positive emotionality, and inconsistent discipline was more strongly r elated to adjustment problems for children high in impulsivity. These findi ngs suggest that children who are high in impulsivity may be at greater ris k for developing problems, whereas positive emotionality may operate as a p rotective factor, decreasing the risk of adjustment problems in response to negative parenting.