{"title":"Understanding the dynamics of interparental conflict, adolescents' responses, and adjustment problems: A network analysis.","authors":"Jichao Jia, Liping Ma, Wei Tong, Tong Wu, Xiaoyi Fang","doi":"10.1037/dev0002221","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Grounded in family theories, interparental conflict is conceptualized as a relational process that interacts dynamically with adolescents' responses to interparental conflict and their adjustment problems, potentially forming a negative cycle within the family system. The present study investigated three contemporaneous network models and two cross-lagged panel network models to explore the relationship among the components of interparental conflict (i.e., hostility, constructive, withdrawal, and compliance), adolescents' responses (i.e., scapegoating, mediation, avoidance, father-adolescent coalition, and mother-adolescent coalition), and their adjustment problems (i.e., depression, anxiety, aggression, and deviant behavior). A total of 768 adolescents (<i>M</i><sub>age</sub> = 15.02, <i>SD</i> = 1.57; 49.60% girls) completed the survey. Results indicated that (a) the components of all subsystems are intercorrelated and coalesce into a feedback-based network of family; (b) compliance conflict behaviors are related to coalition with the compliant parent, while other conflict behaviors are related to coalition with the parent without corresponding behavior; and (c) interparental conflict behaviors of fathers and mothers have different associations with adolescents' responses and adjustment outcomes. These findings revealed how negative dynamics are interconnected within the family system, highlighted the distinct nature of different interparental conflict behaviors, and suggested that the gender of parents should be considered. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).</p>","PeriodicalId":48464,"journal":{"name":"Developmental Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"2307-2321"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7000,"publicationDate":"2026-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Developmental Psychology","FirstCategoryId":"102","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0002221","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2026/6/15 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"PSYCHOLOGY, DEVELOPMENTAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Grounded in family theories, interparental conflict is conceptualized as a relational process that interacts dynamically with adolescents' responses to interparental conflict and their adjustment problems, potentially forming a negative cycle within the family system. The present study investigated three contemporaneous network models and two cross-lagged panel network models to explore the relationship among the components of interparental conflict (i.e., hostility, constructive, withdrawal, and compliance), adolescents' responses (i.e., scapegoating, mediation, avoidance, father-adolescent coalition, and mother-adolescent coalition), and their adjustment problems (i.e., depression, anxiety, aggression, and deviant behavior). A total of 768 adolescents (Mage = 15.02, SD = 1.57; 49.60% girls) completed the survey. Results indicated that (a) the components of all subsystems are intercorrelated and coalesce into a feedback-based network of family; (b) compliance conflict behaviors are related to coalition with the compliant parent, while other conflict behaviors are related to coalition with the parent without corresponding behavior; and (c) interparental conflict behaviors of fathers and mothers have different associations with adolescents' responses and adjustment outcomes. These findings revealed how negative dynamics are interconnected within the family system, highlighted the distinct nature of different interparental conflict behaviors, and suggested that the gender of parents should be considered. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
期刊介绍：
Developmental Psychology ® publishes articles that significantly advance knowledge and theory about development across the life span. The journal focuses on seminal empirical contributions. The journal occasionally publishes exceptionally strong scholarly reviews and theoretical or methodological articles. Studies of any aspect of psychological development are appropriate, as are studies of the biological, social, and cultural factors that affect development. The journal welcomes not only laboratory-based experimental studies but studies employing other rigorous methodologies, such as ethnographies, field research, and secondary analyses of large data sets. We especially seek submissions in new areas of inquiry and submissions that will address contradictory findings or controversies in the field as well as the generalizability of extant findings in new populations. Although most articles in this journal address human development, studies of other species are appropriate if they have important implications for human development. Submissions can consist of single manuscripts, proposed sections, or short reports.
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