Abstract

This study used growth curve analysis to investigate associations between interparental conflict, attachment to parents, and adolescent self-regulation outcomes. Using data from 681 families in the Flourishing Families survey obtained in two western U.S. cities, associations between interparental conflict, mother and father attachment, and initial and growth levels of adolescent self-regulation were analyzed across five time points. Adolescent self-regulation showed steady growth across a five-year period during adolescence, suggesting that self-regulation may continue to develop generally throughout adolescence, a finding not revealed in prior research. Adolescent self-regulation increased significantly more in the first city over the five years of the study than in the second. Interparental conflict predicted lower adolescent self-regulation scores initially, confirming prior research, but interparental conflict did not depress the rate at which adolescent self-regulation developed. As interparental conflict increased, attachment to parents decreased, with attachment to father experiencing a greater negative effect than attachment to mother. No moderation effects were found for the interaction of interparental conflict and attachment to parents regarding adolescent self-regulation.

Degree

PhD

College and Department

Family, Home, and Social Sciences; Marriage and Family Therapy

Rights

http://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/

Date Submitted

2017-12-01

Document Type

Dissertation

Handle

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/etd9624

Keywords

interparental conflict, attachment to parents, adolescent self-regulation

Language

english

Download

Share

COinS