The role of interparental relationship variability in parent–child interactions

Results from a sample of mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder and mothers with neurotypical children

Bibliographic Data

ID7857217
AuthorsBrian P Don (0000-0002-0086-9377, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences University of California San Francisco California USA, corresponding author), Danielle S Roubinov (0000-0002-0528-9793, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences University of California San Francisco California USA), Eli Puterman (0000-0002-5898-2348, University of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia Canada), Elissa S Epel (0000-0002-9334-4720, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences University of California San Francisco California USA)
Year2022
Volume84
Issue4
Pages982-1001
Publication date2022-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Marriage and the Family (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0022-2445 • E-ISSN: 1741-3737
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/jomf.12852
OpenAlexW4282958465
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited29

Objective The goal of this study was to examine how variability in interparental relationship functioning predicts the quality of parent–child interactions in daily life among families in which a child had autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and families of neurotypical children. Background Parent–child interactions predict a host of key outcomes for children, and one contributor to the health of parent–child interactions is the quality of the relationship between the parent couple. Yet, prior research has exclusively focused on how average levels of parental relationship functioning predicts parent–child interactions, which neglects the importance of variability in the interparental relationship. Method Drawing on a sample of 167 mothers, one group with a child with ASD ( n = 85), and the other group with a neurotypical child ( n = 82), we examined how weekly variability in mothers' relational experiences with their partner predicted their interactions with their children in daily life using multilevel modeling. Results The association between interparental relational variability and mother child‐interactions depended on mean levels of interparental relational functioning. Specifically, when mothers reported poor average relational functioning across a particular week, greater variability in their relationship across this same period was associated with benefits for mother–child interactions. This pattern was not seen in those with healthy interparental functioning. Moreover, moderation analyses suggested relational variability may be especially relevant for parent–child interactions of mothers of neurotypical children. Conclusion These results suggest that the association between variability in parents' relational experiences and parent–child interactions depends upon mean levels

Association (psychology · Autism · Autism spectrum disorder · Developmental psychology · Moderation · Neurotypical · Autism Spectrum Disorder Research · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Family and Disability Support Research · Psychology · Social Psychology

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