BIO

Victoria Reis is a second-year undergraduate pursuing a degree in Marketing. She holds a keen interest in the fields of Psychology, Marketing, and Family Science. In addition to her research pursuits, she has actively engaged herself in several extracurricular activities, including the Engage 100 program, Panhellenic, and The FSU Consulting Group.

Strengthening Families: The Impact of Couple Intimacy on Parent-Child Relations and Child Development in Pre-Adolescents

Abstract

With every argument between parents, there is potential for spillover into the parent-child relationship, leading to emotional distress and negative behavioral outcomes for children. This longitudinal study with a sample size of 1364 families explores the impact of couple conflict on parent-child relationships and child behavior in pre-adolescents, with the ultimate goal of promoting happier, healthier homes for families.

Drawing on data from the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (SECCYD), the study measured interparental intimacy, father's perceived level of warmth in the relationship with the child, and child social skills development using three different scales. A correlation analysis among these variables was conducted.

The study found that mother-reported and father-reported couple intimacy were positively related to father's perceived level of warmth in the relationship with their child. Child social skills were positively related to higher mother-reported and father-reported couple intimacy and higher father's perceived warmth. These findings highlight the importance of strong couple intimacy and positive father-child relationships in promoting positive child development outcomes, particularly in the area of social skills.

Keywords: couple satisfaction, child social skills, father-child relationship