Marital conflict and the quality of young children's peer play behavior: the mediating and moderating role of parent-child emotional reciprocity and attachment security

J Fam Psychol. 2009 Apr;23(2):130-45. doi: 10.1037/a0014972.

Abstract

Parent-child attachment security and dyadic measures of parent-child positive and negative emotional reciprocity were examined as possible mediators and moderators of the connection between marital conflict and children's peer play behavior. Eighty parents were observed in a laboratory play session with their 15- to 18-month-old child. Subsequently, at 36 months children were observed interacting with peers at their child care setting. Connections between marital conflict and children's positive peer interaction were mediated by mother-child attachment security, mother-child positive emotional reciprocity, and father-child negative emotional reciprocity. Connections between marital conflict and children's negative peer interaction were mediated by mother-child positive emotional reciprocity and father-child attachment security. Parent-child attachment security and negative emotional reciprocity emerged as important moderators of the connection between marital conflict and children's peer play behavior.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Child Behavior / psychology
  • Child, Preschool
  • Emotions / physiology*
  • Family Conflict / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Kansas
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Object Attachment*
  • Parent-Child Relations*
  • Peer Group*
  • Play and Playthings / psychology*