Parental Discord Versus Harmony During Adolescence and Future Health and Well-Being

• In Event: Poster Session 02
  In Poster Session: PS 02 Topic - Family Context & Processes

Abstract

Marital conflict has been associated with children’s long-term health including higher rates of children’s depression, anxiety, sleep problems, and health difficulties including obesity and cardiovascular problems (Amato, 1995; Davies & Windle, 1997; Fagundes et al., 2011). Effects are often framed through allostatic load theory, which posits these children may experience an accumulation of stress that impacts their physiological regulation over time (Repetti, Robles, & Reynolds, 2011). Yet, there remains a gap in understanding specific psychosocial mechanisms that may moderate this association. Less is known about whether positive marital relationships may provide additional boosts to children’s well-being. This study assesses whether positive and negative marital qualities during adolescence predict well-being (i.e., depression, anxiety, BMI, IL-6, and sleep quality) into adulthood.
Multi-informant longitudinal data were obtained for a community sample of 184 adolescents (86 males) at ages 13 and 26. Parents (176 mothers; 111 fathers) provided data at teen age 13 and teens provided health data at age 26. The sample is demographically diverse (63% European-American, 27% African-American, and 14% biracial or other race/ethnicities). Baseline median family income was $40,000-$59,000.
At age 13, parents’ marital quality was assessed via the Conflict Tactics Scale and Dyadic Adjustment Scale to capture negative (conflict, abuse) and positive (satisfaction, positive communication) relationship quality. At age 26, participants completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, and Pittsburgh Sleep Questionnaire to assess anxiety, depression, and sleep quality. At age 26, BMI was calculated based on measured weight and height. Finally, interleukin-6 (IL-6) was measured via blood samples. Higher IL-6 levels are considered biomarkers for worse physical and mental health, and psychosocial support.
All analyses use a Full Information Maximum Likelihood approach controlling for gender and socioeconomic status. Many significant relationships between parent’s relationship quality and offspring’s health were found. For example, analyses suggest marital dyadic satisfaction and cohesion in adolescence is associated with lower anxiety (β = -.20), depression (β = -.22), and better sleep quality (β = .21) in adulthood. Father’s report of mother’s abusive behaviors predicts higher levels of IL-6 (β = .24) and BMI (β = .27), while mother’s report of father’s abuse predicts increased sleep problems (β = -.32). Many findings remain consistent when parent reports of self and partner behaviors are combined for overall dyadic quality. Potential moderators (i.e., children’s exposure to parental violence, conflict management strategies, and romantic relationship quality) of these associations will be assessed.
Findings suggest marital quality in adolescence predicts young adult mental and physical health using self-report, biological, and objective health behaviors. Positive marital interactions are related to better sleep quality and mental health, while negative marital interactions predict an opposite pattern. Positive communication and higher marital satisfaction may provide adolescents stable, supportive environments and healthy relationship schemas they model in their own relationships; hostile conflict may trigger unhealthy routines (i.e., inconsistent sleep; poor mealtimes), which may lead to poorer health overtime. Implications of results for future research and practice will be discussed.

Authors

• Jessica Kansky, University of Virginia - Charlottesville
  Presenting Author

• Corey Pettit, University of Virginia - Charlottesville
  Non-Presenting Author

• Emily Loeb, University of Virginia
  Non-Presenting Author

• Joseph P Allen, University of Virginia - Charlottesville
  Non-Presenting Author