ABSTRACT
This study extends prior research on the intergenerational transmission of relationship instability by examining parents' history of on-off relationships as a predictor of emerging adults' own cycling (i.e., breaking up and renewing with the same romantic partner). Data were collected at a large mid-western university from 702 emerging adults (18-25 years old). Multinomial logistic regression was used to predict the likelihood that participants had cycled in a past or current relationship. Results show that parental cycling increased the likelihood of offspring cycling in a past or current relationship relative to never cycling, and greater uncertainty about the future of the relationship was a mechanism through which such transmission occurred. Findings from this study demonstrate that parental relationship instability can even be consequential for the transient relationships within emerging adulthood, making family history a productive area to explore for practitioners working with cyclical partners and/or emerging adults.
Subject(s)
Intergenerational Relations , Parents , Humans , Adult , Adolescent , Young AdultABSTRACT
This study focused on the associations between parental divorce and interparental conflict with young adults' current attachment-related anxiety and avoidance, and romantic relationship expectations. The moderating effect of attachment history was also investigated. Using a sample of 1,078 Spanish young adults (544 women, 518 men; average age 21.4 years), our results confirmed that parental divorce is not associated with young adult children's higher attachment anxiety and avoidance nor poorer romantic relationship expectations. Moreover, interparental conflict is more strongly associated with attachment-related avoidance (p < .001) and romantic relationship expectations (p < .05) than parental divorce, yet depending on attachment history. In fact, in support of our hypothesis, a more secure attachment history with mother has a buffering effect on the association between high-unresolved interparental conflict and attachment avoidance (ß = .17, p < .001). Findings add to the existing literature and promote a better understanding of the complex associations between parental divorce and conflict on adult children´s current attachment and relationship expectations.
Subject(s)
Adult Children/psychology , Divorce/psychology , Family Conflict/psychology , Interpersonal Relations , Object Attachment , Parent-Child Relations , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Mother-Child Relations , Young AdultABSTRACT
This study focused on the associations between parental divorce and interparental conflict with young adults' current attachment-related anxiety and avoidance, and romantic relationship expectations. The moderating effect of attachment history was also investigated. Using a sample of 1,078 Spanish young adults (544 women, 518 men; average age 21.4 years), our results confirmed that parental divorce is not associated with young adult children's higher attachment anxiety and avoidance nor poorer romantic relationship expectations. Moreover, interparental conflict is more strongly associated with attachment-related avoidance (p < .001) and romantic relationship expectations (p < .05) than parental divorce, yet depending on attachment history. In fact, in support of our hypothesis, a more secure attachment history with mother has a buffering effect on the association between high-unresolved interparental conflict and attachment avoidance (Beta = .17, p < .001). Findings add to the existing literature and promote a better understanding of the complex associations between parental divorce and conflict on adult children's current attachment and relationship expectations
No disponible
Subject(s)
Humans , Divorce/psychology , Family Conflict/psychology , Anxiety/psychology , Family Relations/psychology , Parent-Child Relations , Adult Children/psychology , Object Attachment , RoleABSTRACT
A substantial proportion of unmarried mothers with young children live with new partners (stepfathers), and the stability of these unions is important to outcomes for mothers and children. This study examined effects of both step- and biological fathers' co-parenting, parenting, and financial contributions on union stability among mothers and stepfathers. Data were from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (N = 370), and the sample included mothers with 3-year-old children who were mostly unmarried and low-income. Results from discrete-time event history analysis indicated that mothers' residential unions with stepfathers were more stable when stepfathers were working and less stable when biological fathers paid formal child support. Results from interactions in the model showed that differences in the likelihood of dissolution between working and nonworking stepfathers were greater when stepfathers had more supportive co-parenting relationships with mothers and when stepfathers engaged in activities with the child more often. Findings suggest that economic contributions of both biological and stepfathers affect the stability of mother-stepfather residential unions, and stepfathers' co-parenting and parenting contributions may provide additional protection against union dissolution, particularly when stepfathers are working. Prevention and intervention programs could benefit these fragile families by attending to economic contributions of both fathers and stepfathers and helping stepfathers develop roles as co-parents and parents in this context. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).
