Ouderlijk Conflict en Ouder-Kind Communicatie na Scheiding, Mediatie van Ervaren Warmte

Abstract

Every year approximately 70.000 children are confronted with the separation of their parents in the Netherlands. Higher levels of parental conflict can form a risk factor for children’s development, more than a separation itself. Nevertheless, limited research has been done into parental conflict and family relationships in recently separated families. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between parental conflict and both maternal-child and paternal-child communication in recently separated families, with a possible mediation of warmth expressed by the parents. A total of 132 children between 8 and 16 years old from 77 recently separated families have participated. The Co-parenting Behaviour Questionnaire (CBQ) has been used to measure parental conflict, parent-child communication and warmth from both parents, as experienced by the children. After completing a hierarchical multiple regression analysis by using the Baron and Kenny method (1986), results showed no direct relationship between parental conflict and parent-child communication in this study. An indirect relationship, however, has been found in the paternal analysis and parental warmth from both parents has been found being a strong predictor of parent-child communication in recently separated families. The high amount of yearly separations and the lack of knowledge of this population make further research necessary. To adjust and improve interventions for children from recently separated families, parenting and family relationships after separation could be taken into account.