The Longitudinal Relationship Between Parental Conflict and Adolescents' Aggressive Behavior in China

The Mediating Role of Poor Family Functioning

Dados Bibliográficos

ID11106951
AutoresWencheng Yi (0000-0002-1920-1967, Center of Mental Health Education and Research, School of Psychology Jiangxi Normal University Nanchang China), Xiaofang Yu (Psychological Education Center Jiangxi Normal University Nanchang China), Xiao-Fang Yu (0000-0002-1933-636X, Jiangxi Normal University, autor correspondente), Baojuan Ye (0000-0002-1776-5742, Center of Mental Health Education and Research, School of Psychology, School of Education Jiangxi Normal University Nanchang China), Lingkai Lin (0000-0002-1083-8523, Center of Mental Health Education and Research, School of Psychology Jiangxi Normal University Nanchang China), Ruiying Liu (0000-0001-9137-4486, Center of Mental Health Education and Research, School of Psychology Jiangxi Normal University Nanchang China), R F Liu (Jiangxi Normal University)
Ano2025
Volume51
Fascículo3
Páginase70029-e70029
Data de publicação2025-05-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoAggressive Behavior (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0096-140X • E-ISSN: 1098-2337
EditoraWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ab.70029
PMID40241372
OpenAlexW4409556740
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas1
Referências citadas103

It has been demonstrated that there is a link between parental conflict and aggressive behavior. However, whether there exists a reciprocal longitudinal relation between them needs to be examined. In this longitudinal study, we tested the reciprocal impacts of parental conflict and aggressive behavior, considering the role of poor family functioning in these two aspect. Three measurements were conducted on 540 adolescents ( M age = 12.57, SD = 0.68) in China, with a 6‐month interval for each measurement. The first measurement was conducted in September 2022, the second in March 2023, and the third in September 2023. Adolescents' perception of the interparental conflict scale, family assessment device functioning scale, and direct and indirect aggression scale were used. Parental conflict at Waves 1 and 2 positively predicted poor family functioning and aggressive behavior at Waves 2 and 3, respectively. Poor family functioning at Waves 1 and 2 positively predicted aggressive behavior at Waves 2 and 3, while aggressive behavior at Waves 1 and 2 positively predicted poor family functioning at Waves 2 and 3. These results indicated the reciprocal relationship between poor family functioning and aggressive behavior. Additionally, the mediation analysis revealed that poor family functioning at Wave 2 serves as a mediator in the unidirectional association between parental conflict at Wave 1 and aggressive behavior at Wave 3. These findings indicated that poor family functioning partially accounts for the unidirectional predictive relationship between parental conflict and aggressive behavior over time. Consequently, the results provide valuable insights for reducing aggressive behavior

Aggression · Developmental psychology · Family conflict · Longitudinal study · Mediation · Poison control · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Medicine · Psychology