The Moderating Role of Parental Depression on the Relationship between Child Hostility and Family Functioning
Conference Year
January 2019
Abstract
Abstract
Research documents a strong association between child hostility and prospective poor child outcomes (e.g., child antisocial behaviors, such as hitting and yelling; Liu, 2004), as well as poor family outcomes (e.g., family dysfunction, such as ineffective interfamilial communication; Roberts et al., 2018). Extant literature also emphasizes the significance of parent depression in promoting increased family conflict (Fear et al., 2009). However, effects of child hostility in the context of parent depression are much less understood and may be associated with higher levels of family dysfunction (Cummings et al., 2002; Morgan et al., 2002). The current study thus aims to assess the relationship between observed child hostility, child-reported family dysfunction, and parent depression, measured using the Iowa Family Interaction Rating Scale (IFIRS; Melby et al., 1998), Family Assessment Device (FAD; Epstein et al., 1983), and Beck Depression Inventory–II (BDI–II; Beck, Steer, Brown, 1996), respectively. I hypothesize that: 1) child hostility will be negatively associated with family functioning, and 2) high levels of parent depression will be associated with a stronger relationship between child hostility and family dysfunction, whereas low levels of parental depression will be associated with a weaker relationship. Results supported study hypotheses, indicating that child hostility and family dysfunction are moderately and positively correlated (p = .04), and the moderating role of parent depression is borderline significant (p <.10), such that as levels of parent depression increase, levels of family functioning are overall higher than when levels of parent depression are lower. Findings further support extant literature, indicating child hostility is related to dysfunctional family environments, and that high levels of parent depression may exacerbate this relationship. Findings from this study inform new methods of family intervention and prevention, as well as ways of identifying families most at risk for dysfunction.
Primary Faculty Mentor Name
Dr. Rex Forehand
Secondary Mentor Name
Alexandra Sullivan
Graduate Student Mentors
Alexandra Sullivan
Faculty/Staff Collaborators
Alexandra Sullivan (Graduate Student Mentor)
Status
Undergraduate
Student College
College of Arts and Sciences
Program/Major
Psychological Science
Primary Research Category
Social Sciences
The Moderating Role of Parental Depression on the Relationship between Child Hostility and Family Functioning
Abstract
Research documents a strong association between child hostility and prospective poor child outcomes (e.g., child antisocial behaviors, such as hitting and yelling; Liu, 2004), as well as poor family outcomes (e.g., family dysfunction, such as ineffective interfamilial communication; Roberts et al., 2018). Extant literature also emphasizes the significance of parent depression in promoting increased family conflict (Fear et al., 2009). However, effects of child hostility in the context of parent depression are much less understood and may be associated with higher levels of family dysfunction (Cummings et al., 2002; Morgan et al., 2002). The current study thus aims to assess the relationship between observed child hostility, child-reported family dysfunction, and parent depression, measured using the Iowa Family Interaction Rating Scale (IFIRS; Melby et al., 1998), Family Assessment Device (FAD; Epstein et al., 1983), and Beck Depression Inventory–II (BDI–II; Beck, Steer, Brown, 1996), respectively. I hypothesize that: 1) child hostility will be negatively associated with family functioning, and 2) high levels of parent depression will be associated with a stronger relationship between child hostility and family dysfunction, whereas low levels of parental depression will be associated with a weaker relationship. Results supported study hypotheses, indicating that child hostility and family dysfunction are moderately and positively correlated (p = .04), and the moderating role of parent depression is borderline significant (p <.10), such that as levels of parent depression increase, levels of family functioning are overall higher than when levels of parent depression are lower. Findings further support extant literature, indicating child hostility is related to dysfunctional family environments, and that high levels of parent depression may exacerbate this relationship. Findings from this study inform new methods of family intervention and prevention, as well as ways of identifying families most at risk for dysfunction.