Trajectories of Conflict over Raising Adolescent Children and Marital Satisfaction

Abstract

The present study examined trajectories of marital satisfaction among couples with adolescent children and evaluated how changes in parents' conflict over raising adolescent children were associated with changes in marital satisfaction over four years. Using a prospective, longitudinal research design and controlling for family socioeconomic status, dyadic growth curve analysis from a sample of 431 couples with adolescent children indicated that marital satisfaction decreased over time for parents with adolescent children, and that the trajectories for mothers and fathers were substantially linked. More importantly, the study demonstrated that increases or decreases in parents' marital conflict over raising adolescent children were associated with corresponding decreases or increases in marital satisfaction for both mothers and fathers.

Figure 1

Dyadic growth curve model for linked trajectories of mothers’ and fathers’ marital satisfaction. Standardized coefficients. After adjusting the model χ² by I-SAT model, the adjusted χ² ₍₈₎ = 21.95, adjusted TLI =.98, adjusted RMSEA =.06. ** p <.01, two-tailed.

Figure 2

Linked growth curve model for marital conflict and fathers’ and mothers’ marital satisfaction. Standardized coefficients. After adjusting the model χ² by I-SAT model, the adjusted χ² ₍₂₁₎ = 37.70, adjusted TLI =.99, adjusted RMSEA =.04. * p <.05, ** p <.01, two-tailed.