Emotional Processes in the Family: Context for Interparental Conflict

Drawing from family systems theory, this study examines the role of family emotional processes as contextual factors that shape children\u27s appraisals and adjustment associated with interparental conflict. Two emotional processes were examined as family contextual factors for children\u27s experiences with interparental conflict: 1) family emotional expressiveness (emotional climate); and 2) parents reactions to children\u27s negative emotions. Data were collected from a culturally diverse sample of 144 children ages 8-12 years old and their parents. Results provided support for the family emotional climate as a contextual factor for children\u27s self-blaming attributions. Family negativity was found to exacerbate children\u27s maladjustment associated with interparental conflict. Finally, mothers\u27 and fathers\u27 responses to children\u27s negative affect moderated the association between interparental conflict and children\u27s self-blaming appraisals. The implications of these findings are discussed