Linking internalizing and externalizing problems to warmth and negativity in observed dyadic parent–offspring communication

Family Relations, vol. 72, pp. 2777–2799

Abstract

Abstract Objective This study examined the relative associations of mothers'/fathers' and offspring's internalizing and externalizing problems with parent‐to‐offspring and offspring‐to‐parent warmth and negativity. Background Psychological conditions of family members may be related to intrafamilial social interactions. Particularly, internalizing and externalizing problems may affect the quality of parent–offspring communication. Method In this study, fathers (N = 94), mothers (N = 125) and their offspring (N = 224, age rangeoffspring = 7.5–65.5 years) from 137 nuclear families participated in a behavioral conflict interaction task during which expressed warmth and negativity were observed. Associations between parents' and offspring's psychological problems (of the past 6 months) and parent‐to‐offspring and offspring‐to‐parent communication were tested simultaneously using structural equation models separated for fathers and mothers. Based on prior findings in the study sample, our analyses were controlled for history of childhood abuse. Results Offspring's internalizing problems were related to less negativity toward their father, whereas offspring's externalizing problems were related to more negativity toward their father and to receiving less warmth from their mother. Father's externalizing problems were linked to more negativity toward offspring. No associations were found between maternal and paternal internalizing problems and dyadic parent–offspring interactions, nor for maternal externalizing problems. Conclusion Findings support that psychological conditions of one family member have an impact on their social interactions within the family. Implications Supporting families with interventions to improve parent–offspring interactions and (early) treatment of externalizing problems is recommended.

Authors 9

1. Marie‐Louise J. Kullberg corresponding Aachen Institute of Psychology Institute of Psychology, Clinical Psychology Unit

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Psychology, Clinical Psychology Unit Leiden University Leiden The Netherlands

   Institute of Psychology, Clinical Psychology Unit, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands

2. Renate S. M. Buisman Aachen Institute of Education and Child Studies Leiden University Leiden The Netherlands Institute of Education and Child Studies Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Education and Child Studies Leiden University Leiden The Netherlands

   Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC) Leiden University Leiden The Netherlands

   Institute of Education and Child Studies, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands

   Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC), Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands

3. Charlotte C. van Schie Aachen Institute of Psychology Institute of Psychology, Clinical Psychology Unit Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition

   Leiden University · University of Wollongong · Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Psychology, Clinical Psychology Unit Leiden University Leiden The Netherlands

   Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC) Leiden University Leiden The Netherlands

   School of Psychology and Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute University of Wollongong Wollongong Australia

   Institute of Psychology, Clinical Psychology Unit, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands

   Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC), Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands

   School of Psychology and Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia

4. Katharina Pittner Aachen Institute of Education and Child Studies Leiden University Leiden The Netherlands Institute of Education and Child Studies

   Leiden University · Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin · Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin

   Affiliation as printed

   Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt‐Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Medical Psychology Berlin Germany

   Institute of Education and Child Studies Leiden University Leiden The Netherlands

   Institute of Education and Child Studies, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands

5. Marieke S. Tollenaar Aachen Institute of Psychology Institute of Psychology, Clinical Psychology Unit Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Psychology, Clinical Psychology Unit Leiden University Leiden The Netherlands

   Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC) Leiden University Leiden The Netherlands

   Institute of Psychology, Clinical Psychology Unit, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands

   Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC), Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands

6. Lisa J. M. van den Berg Aachen Institute of Psychology Institute of Psychology, Clinical Psychology Unit Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Psychology, Clinical Psychology Unit Leiden University Leiden The Netherlands

   Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC) Leiden University Leiden The Netherlands

   Institute of Psychology, Clinical Psychology Unit, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands

   Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC), Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands

7. Lenneke R. A. Alink Aachen Institute of Education and Child Studies Leiden University Leiden The Netherlands Institute of Education and Child Studies Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Education and Child Studies Leiden University Leiden The Netherlands

   Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC) Leiden University Leiden The Netherlands

   Institute of Education and Child Studies, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands

   Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC), Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands

8. Marian J. Bakermans‐Kranenburg Aachen Institute of Education and Child Studies Leiden University Leiden The Netherlands

   Leiden University · Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

   Affiliation as printed

   Clinical Child & Family Studies Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Amsterdam The Netherlands

   Institute of Education and Child Studies Leiden University Leiden The Netherlands

   Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC) Leiden University Leiden The Netherlands

9. Bernet M. Elzinga Aachen Institute of Psychology

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Psychology, Clinical Psychology Unit Leiden University Leiden The Netherlands

   Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC) Leiden University Leiden The Netherlands