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Adolescent Report of Interparental Conflict: The Role of Threat and Self-blame Appraisal on Adaptive Outcome

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Abstract

Research consistently shows that children exposed to interparental conflict are at-risk for experiencing psychopathology. Establishing a link, however, between interparental conflict and maladjustment is not the same as understanding how specific outcomes manifest. Therefore, we examined the relation of interparental conflict and appraisal with adolescent outcome with 169 high school students (ages 14–19 years). Specifically, threat and self-blame appraisals were hypothesized to mediate the relation between interparental conflict and both adaptive and maladaptive outcomes. Results suggest that threat partially mediated the relation between interparental conflict and externalizing problems, interparental conflict and internalizing problems, and interparental conflict and adaptive behaviors. Additionally, self-blame appears to partially mediate the relation between interparental conflict and internalizing problems. Implications of the current findings are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Child Psychology Program, 2010 Dole Human Development Center, University of Kansas, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA

    Kerri L. Kim, Yo Jackson & Heather L. Hunter

  2. Department of Counseling Psychology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA

    Selby M. Conrad

Authors
  1. Kerri L. Kim
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  2. Yo Jackson
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  3. Selby M. Conrad
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  4. Heather L. Hunter
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Correspondence to Kerri L. Kim.

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Kim, K.L., Jackson, Y., Conrad, S.M. et al. Adolescent Report of Interparental Conflict: The Role of Threat and Self-blame Appraisal on Adaptive Outcome. J Child Fam Stud 17, 735–751 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-007-9187-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-007-9187-5

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