Dynamic Associations between Marital Stress and Externalizing Problem Behavior from Middle Childhood to Adolescence: The Role of Parental Sense of Competence

Abstract

This longitudinal study examined dynamic associations between marital stress and children’s externalizing behavior, mediation of these associations by parental sense of competence and the extent to which associations are similar for mothers and fathers, between middle childhood and adolescence. A community sample of 369 families (46.1% boys, MageT1 = 7.70 years) was involved, 368 mothers and 355 fathers participated. Marital stress, externalizing behavior and perceived parental competence were assessed three times across 8 year. In this study, similar associations were found for mothers and fathers. A bivariate Latent Growth Model indicated associated change between marital stress and externalizing behavior, supporting the idea of codevelopment. Cross-lagged panel analyses showed no significant spill-over or elicitation effects. Results revealed an important role for parental sense of competence in the family dynamics, which was reciprocally and longitudinally related to marital stress and externalizing behavior. That is, higher levels of marital stress were associated with lower feelings of competence six years later, which subsequently were associated with higher levels of externalizing behavior two years later. Also, during adolescence, higher levels of children’s externalizing behavior were associated with lower perceived parental competence, which in turn was related to more marital stress. This indicates that when working with families with high levels of marital stress, externalizing behavior, or both, clinicians should be aware of the role of parental sense of competence to prevent negative family processes from escalating.