The Spillover Effect:Assessing the Impact of Dyadic Cohesion on the Association Between Anger/Irritability Trauma Symptoms in Fathers and Family Conflict Behavior

Prior research in the field of family science and family therapy has employed a narrative surrounding mother’s contributions to family dynamics and family functioning. Researchers have also consistently examined the mental health experiences of the mother and their impact on family issues, yet we are left with little understanding of how the mental health experiences of fathers contribute to the development of family issues. This study analyzed the link between fathers' reports of anger/irritability trauma symptoms and family conflict behavior through employing the spillover hypothesis. Father reports of marital dyadic cohesion were examined as a protective factor in this association. The study used data previously collected from a clinical sample of 186 fathers who sought therapy services at the Center for Healthy Families (CHF), an individual, couple and family therapy clinic at the University of Maryland, College Park. In support of the spillover effect, the results indicate a positive association between fathers’ anger/irritability trauma symptoms and family conflict behavior. However, dyadic cohesion did not serve as a protective factor in this association