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Interparental Violence and Childhood Adjustment: How and Why Maternal Sensitivity Is a Protective Factor

Year: 2014

Type: article

Abstract: This study examined sensitive parenting as a protective factor in relations between interparental violence (IPV) and children's coping and psychological adjustment. Using a multimethod approach, a high-risk sample of 201 two-year-olds and their mothers participated in three annual waves of data collection. Moderator analyses revealed that sensitive parenting buffered the risk posed by IPV on children's changes in externalizing and prosocial development over a 2-year period. Tests of mediated moderation further indicated that sensitive parenting protected children from the vulnerability of growing up in a violent home through its association with lower levels of children's angry reactivity to interparental conflict. Results highlight the significance of identifying the mechanisms that mediate protective factors in models of family adversity.

Source: Child Development

DOI: 10.1111/cdev.12279

Authors: Liviah G Manning, Patrick T Davies, Dante Cicchetti

Institutions: University of Rochester, University of Minnesota

Language: English

Topic: Intimate Partner and Family Violence

Subfield: Health

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute of Mental Health