Longitudinal changes in interparental conflict and impacts on children’s socioemotional skills

Interparental conflict is a common issue in families. Guided by the family systems theory, conflict between parents may not only impact their relationship but also influences child’s development. While previous research has established links between interparental conflict and children’s outcomes, fewer studies have examined how changes in conflict over time may affect children’s development. Using three waves of data from a national and longitudinal dataset, Early Childhood Longitudinal Study - Birth Cohort (ECLS-B), this study investigated changes in mothers’ and fathers’ reports of interparental conflict and how these changes relate to children’s socioemotional skills at the third wave, when they are 4-year-old. Results from multilevel growth curve models indicate a significant decrease in fathers’ reports of conflict frequency, while a significant increase in mothers’ reports of conflict. Furthermore, an increase in mother-reported conflict frequency was associated with lower socioemotional skills in children at age 4. Findings highlight the importance of examining couple relationships from a dynamic perspective.