Poster #102 - Similarities in adolescent behavior and parenting across different family structures: A 12-year prospective study

• In Event: 2-055 - Poster Session 06
  In Poster Session: PS 06 Section - Family Context & Processes

Integrative Statement

The current literature on differences in child behavior and parenting across different family structures suggests that changes in family structure are significantly associated with child problem behavior (Osborne & McLanahan, 2007; Womack et al., 2018). Previous research has consistently found associations between divorce and dissolution of cohabiting partner relationships with problematic child externalizing behaviors (see review by Shaw, 1991; Goodnight et al., 2013). Furthermore, changes in family structure have also been linked to increased risk for compromises in parenting quality (Hardaway et al., 2012), which may be the mechanism by which changes in family structure influence child behavior. The current literature has also focused mainly on changes in family structure comprised of married biological parents (Amato, 2010), less often accounting for changes in other family structures (e.g., a mother and grandmother as caregivers, cohabitating parents). Kellam and colleagues (1977) found that children of single mothers as compared to mother/grandmother or mother/step-father parenting dyads were most at risk for behavioral problems in early childhood. However, few studies to date have assessed differences in adolescent behavior across such varying family structures throughout childhood and adolescence.
The present study intends to fill the gaps in the literature on the relationship between changes in family structure across childhood and early adolescence in relation to adolescent disruptive behavior in a large (N=540), ethnically and racially diverse sample of low-income families. In the present study, we compared adolescent disruptive behavior across seven different types of family structure identified in the sample over the 12 year period (e.g., families with changes in primary caregiver, families with the same caregivers that are in a romantic relationship, families with the same caregivers but are not in a romantic relationship, families with the same primary caregiver but varying live-in partners, families with the same primary caregiver but varying non-romantic alternate caregivers, families with the same primary caregiver and same romantic partner, families with the same primary caregiver and no romantic partner). In congruence with the current literature (Amato, 2010), we hypothesized that across the seven identified family structures adolescent behavior would differ. Further, we posited that across the different family structures parenting practices (e.g., monitoring, setting limits, supporting positive behavior, proactive parenting) would vary.
Contrary to our hypotheses we did not find significant differences across the seven family structure types for adolescent disruptive behavior (p >.05), nor for parenting practices (p >.05), when accounting for target child gender, living location of the family, treatment status, family income, primary caregiver education level, and contact with child protective services. However, when collapsing across all seven family structure types, we found that parent-child relationship quality significantly predicted adolescent behavior, such that the more frequent, positive parent child interactions characterized by warmth, support and communication were associated with fewer adolescent disruptive behaviors (β = .185, p < .001). The results from the present study suggest that across a wide variety of family structures, a positive relationship between child and caregiver is more important for behavioral outcomes than who the caregivers are across time.

Authors

• Shannon Savell, University of Virginia
  Presenting Author

• Mayra Ramos, University of Virginia
  Non-Presenting Author

• Evelina Dubrowsky, University of Virginia
  Non-Presenting Author

• Melvin N. Wilson, University of Virginia
  Non-Presenting Author

• Daniel S. Shaw, University of Pittsburgh
  Non-Presenting Author

• Kathryn Lemery-Chalfant, Arizona State University
  Non-Presenting Author