Maternal exposure to family-of-origin conflict and child behavioral problems: the role of two generations of maternal care

Purpose: This study examines how intergenerational family dynamics, including conflict in a mother’s family-of-origin and maternal warmth and affection across two generations, may be related to child behavior problems in late childhood. Methods: This longitudinal cohort study included 642 mother-chi...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Glenn, Andrea L. (Author) ; Guan, Yiqing (Author) ; Leung, Patrick W. L. (Author) ; Thompson, Olivia K. (Author) ; Cui, Naixue (Author) ; Liu, Jianghong (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2025
In: Journal of family violence
Year: 2025, Volume: 40, Issue: 3, Pages: 555-565
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Keywords:
behavior problems
Externalizing
Maternal sensitivity
Parent-child relations
Description
Summary:Purpose: This study examines how intergenerational family dynamics, including conflict in a mother’s family-of-origin and maternal warmth and affection across two generations, may be related to child behavior problems in late childhood. Methods: This longitudinal cohort study included 642 mother-child dyads (child mean age 11 years). Mothers reported on conflict tactics in their family-of-origin, on warmth and affection received from their own mother, and on their child’s behavior problems. Children reported on the maternal warmth and affection received from their mothers. Results: We found a direct relationship between the levels of conflict present in the mother’s family-of-origin and children’s behavior problems. A serial mediation model revealed that family-of-origin conflict was associated with lower perceived maternal warmth and affection received by mothers from grandmothers, which was associated with lower perceived maternal warmth and affection received by children, which in turn was related to higher levels of both internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. Conclusions: Maternal experiences of family dynamics as children not only influence later parenting practices, but also have a legacy of impact on their children’s behavioral health. Assessing features of parental developmental environments may help to identify families who could benefit from prevention and intervention programs aimed to reduce behavior problems in youth.
Item Description:Literaturverzeichnis: Seite 563-565
Physical Description:Illustrationen
ISSN:1573-2851
DOI:10.1007/s10896-023-00653-0