Marital Conflict and Divorce

Children’s reactions to conflict depend on how they interpret what they observe

Emotional security theory

What is exposure to poor conflict resolution between caregivers a predictor of in children?

Poor social and emotional functioning

By 3 months, _______ have developed __________ of their interactions with their caregivers. 

babies, expectations 

Children’s interpretations dictate the _______ that caregivers’ conflict has on them.

effect 

When infants see martial conflict they are exposed to __________

chronic stress

If parents argue in front of an infant, they become a source of _____ for the infant

fear

If there is marital conflict, what causes poor emotional regulation skills? 

Poor parental sensitivity and less engagement with parents when attachment system is activated during conflict 

What is the result of less adaptive emotional regulation skills in children who experience chronic stress from marital conflict?

Withdrawal

Chronic stress response is activated more so for a ______________ baby if they experience chronic stress from marital conflict

temperamentally reactive

Why do temperamentally reactive babies tend to be more likely to have their chronic stress response activated during martial conflict?

They need more care from caregivers because little things can activate their stress response 

_________ from chronic stress experienced by marital conflict affects the developing brain regions in children.

Cortisol

What does cortisol from chronic activation of the stress response do to the brain for children and young adults?

Changes the size and neural architecture in children and prefrontal cortex for young adults

Lack of emotional regulation skills and changes in the structure and function of brain regions associated with emotional regulation both lead to risk for ____________________ for the baby

emotional problems later in life 

What three things are shown by parents who engage in depressive conflict resolution styles?

1. Emotional distress

2. Avoidance

3. Withdrawal

What is the effect on a child when their caregivers engage in depressive conflict resolution?

Show anger, sadness, and worry

What do parent show when they engage in angry conflict resolution?

Physical or verbal aggression 

What might one or both parents do in angry conflict resolution?

Become defensive

What is the effect on a child when their caregivers engage in angry conflict resolution?

More likely to show aggression with their peers

What do parents show when they engage in constructive conflict resolution?

Respect, mindful listening, compromising, and engage in affectionate touch 

What is the effect on a child when their caregivers engage in constructive conflict resolution?

Stress response is not activated and their emotional security is intact

Which type of conflict resolution should temperamentally reactive babies see? why?

Constructive conflict resolution; teaches children how to resolve conflicts and ensures the child’s stress response is not activated so they can process it

________________ arousal in children, after marital conflict is over, determine the children’s ______________

Failure to down regulate, behavior regulation  

While caregivers may have down regulated their own distress, they tend to forget to down regulate the ______ distress.

child’s 

When a parent works long hours and their child is in center-based care what determines if the parent has “negative spill-over” and brings conflict into their home life?

Struggling to compartmentalize work and family life

If a parent brings conflict into home life from working long hours and struggling to compartmentalize work and family life, which attachment style is their child more at risk of developing to them?

Insecure

In addition to insecure attachment relationship to a caregiver, what else are children and toddlers at risk for if their parent brings conflict into the home from working long hours and struggling to compartmentalize work and family life?

Poor emotional regulation skills in children and toddler non-compliance 

If a child is in center-based care for long hours, they have higher levels of _______ in the afternoon at childcare than when at home.

cortisol

The increase in cortisol from being in childcare for long hours is more likely with which two factors?

1. Younger than 2-3 years

2. In poor quality care

Children who have a _____________ are more likely to experience behavioral problems in childhood. 

difficult temperament 

Very long time to warm up to something

Behavioral inhibition

Behavioral problems are more likely to develop in childhood if a child shows _________________

behavioral inhibition

Behavioral problems are more likely to develop in childhood if they spend _________ in center-based care and daycare teachers _____________ social interactions, especially if they are exposed to ______________

long hours, do not help the child navigate, poor maternal sensitivity 

If a child develops behavioral problems in childhood they will experience an ___________ in cortisol levels, which indicates a chronically active __________ that influence the developing _______

increase, HPA system, brain

If a child has a difficult temperament and the parent cannot stay home with the child until 1-2 years old when is it not beneficial for the child to spend more time in high-quality day care?

If the parent is more educated than the daycare teacher

If a child has a difficult temperament and the home life is not calm and the parent cannot stay with the child until they are around 1-2 years old what should the parent do with the child?

Send them to high-quality day care 

If a child has a difficult temperament and the parent can stay home with the child until they are 1-2 years old but they are not more educated than the day care teacher what is most beneficial for the child?

Spending longer hours in high-quality day care

Child is made to take sides

Triangulation

In which concept might a child engage in trying to distract the parents?

Triangulation 

Carrying messages between parents to avoid or minimize conflict between parents is an example of which concept?

Triangulation

What are the effects on a child who is experiencing triangulation?

Anxiety, depression, and social withdrawal

What are the 3 types of role reversal?

1. Treating the child as a parent

2. Treating the child as a partner

3. Treating the child as a peer

Parents use the child as a caregiver

Treating the child as a parent

What are parents seeking when they use the child as a parent in role reversal?

Support and comfort

“Do you think I should leave dad? is example of which form of role reversal?

Treating the child as a parent 

Intrusive and inappropriate intimacy

Treating the child as a partner

Parent asks the child to give them a hug while they are distracted by something such as playing with a toy would be an example of which form of role reversal?

Treating the child as a partner

Treating the child as a confident

Treating the child as a peer

“Your dad said…” or “Your mom treats me…” would be an example of which form of role reversal?

Treating the child as a peer

By ____ months, triangulation and role reversal can be observed and coded

24

The negative effects of triangulation and role reversal are observed in _______, ________, and _________ samples 

normative, high-risk, maltreated 

Does there need to be high martial conflict for triangulation and role reversal to be observed?

No

Role reversal promotes an __________ bond between the child and the parent that causes the child to hide their _________

emotional, true self

The emotional bond formed from triangulation or role reversal is strengthened every time the child ____________, and the parent thus becomes more _____________

meets the needs of the parent, predictable 

When is role reversal appropriate?

Naturally start taking care of our parents after young adulthood

What are the 3 pathways observed that promote role reversal?

1. Caregiver lacks support, affection, and care from their partner

2. Unresolved trauma

3. Caregiver needs comfort

When a caregiver feels they lack support, affection, and care from their partner they feel helpless and ________ from the parental role which results in role reversal.

withdraw

When a caregiver has unresolved trauma they cannot meet the _____ of the child resulting in role reversal. 

needs

When a caregiver needs comfort what is observed in the role reversal pathway?

Caregiver turns to the child for comfort 

What is hypothesized about when a caregiver turns to the child for comfort when needed?

Child learns that to maintain closeness, they must meet the caregiving needs of their caregiver

Do all children classified as disorganized end up in role reversal?

No

Do all children in role reversal have disorganized attachment to their caregiver in infancy?

No

When children engage in role reversal, as toddlers they struggle to engage with ______ and have poor __________ competence.

peers, academic

When children engage in role reversal, as adolescents and adults they have poor _________ development, report _____ when they move away from home, and pay attention to their __________ needs at the ________ of their own needs while continuing to engage in _________ care towards the caregiver. 

identity, guit, caregiver’s, expense, controlling 

Adults in romantic relationships who experienced role reversal will have compulsive need to engage in ______________ with their partner.

controlling care

“I have to take care of others.” or “I am undeserving of care.” or “I only receive care when I take care of others.” is an example of an adult in a _________________ who experienced _____________ as a child.

romantic relationship, role reversal

A divorce will have negative effects on a child only if the child has insecure attachment to _____ parent(s) or towards the parent the child is __________

both, with the most 

A divorce will have a negative effect on a child if in childhood in adolescence they perceived ______________ which explains the need for control in their relationships when they enter adulthood.

poor parental control

A divorce will have a negative effect on a child if they receive low support for parent with fewer resources who struggles to provide for the kids. Why?

Risk for low sensitivity

The __________ of low sensitivity after a divorce is what matters with if the child experiences negative effects.

duration

After a divorce and living in poverty, not having at least __________ who has progressed _________ for potential for upward mobility is a barrier to a child’s wellbeing.

one parent, past high school

After a divorce and living in poverty, not having parents who have good __________ and ________ engage in positive parent-child interactions is a barrier to a child’s wellbeing.

emotional regulation, self-efficacy

After a divorce and living in poverty, not having at least one parent with a ____________ (or earned secure) history to promote parenting warmth is a barrier to a child’s wellbeing.

secure attachment

After a divorce and living in poverty, not having at least one ________ as a safe haven and secure base is a barrier for a child’s wellbeing.

supportive adult

What could happen if a caregiver lacks one of the social determinants of health?

Parental harshness and/or disengagement

If a caregiver is struggling with not having access to social determinants of health, the child could develop a ________ stress response, poor executive function causing them to increase ____________ and ____________ problems, and overall _________ health outcomes.

dysregulated, internalizing, externalising, negative

High parental conflict followed by divorce, causes young adults to be at ______________ for relationship difficulties and divorce themselves if they ______ parents’ poor conflict resolution style, perceive that others are ___________, and develop ____________ of marriage and relationships

high risk, imitate, not reliable, negative scripts

How could a young adult develop negative scripts of marriage and relationships?

Social learning and conversations with parents 

When are negative scripts about marriage and relationships activated?

When they encounter similar situations to that of their parents

What can an adolescent do if exposed to triangulation and role reversal?

Reach out to supportive others and sometimes confront the parent