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ERIC Number: EJ1477404
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Aug
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1053-1890
EISSN: EISSN-1573-3319
Available Date: 2024-12-06
A Three-Wave Longitudinal Study of Preschool Children's Reactions to Interparental Conflict and Their Internalizing and Externalizing Problems in Japan
Yasumitsu Jikihara1; Shunsuke Suzumura2; Akiko Hirose3; Naoya Todo4; Takahiro Kubo5; Misako Aramaki6; Naomi Shiozaki7; Satoko Ando8
Child & Youth Care Forum, v54 n4 p945-958 2025
Background: Positive marital relations are crucial for healthy family functioning, whereas conflict-ridden marital relations are linked to children's adjustment problems. According to the Emotional Security Theory, destructive interparental conflict leads to children's emotional insecurity, impacting their adjustment. Objective: This three-wave longitudinal study examined the temporal associations between preschool children's reactions to interparental conflict, interparental conflict and children's behavioral problems in Japan. Methods: We conducted a longitudinal three-wave study with Japanese parents of children at three time points: aged 3 (Time 1), 4 (Time 2), and 5 (Time 3). Children's reactions to interparental conflict at Time 2 were assessed using the Security in the Marital Subsystem-Parent Report, which includes subscales for overt emotional reactivity, behavioral dysregulation, overt avoidance, and overt involvement. Results: Our findings revealed a positive association between behavioral dysregulation at Time 2 and internalizing problems at Time 3. However, no significant association was found between behavioral dysregulation and externalizing problems. Emotional reactivity was not associated with behavioral problems or interparental conflict. Differences in age ranges across studies may account for the variance in findings. Conclusions: This longitudinal study highlights the importance of focusing on behavioral dysregulation in preschool children as a factor associated with the relationship between interparental conflict and internalizing problems over time. Emotional reactivity may not serve as a reliable indicator of behavioral problems or interparental conflict in Japanese contexts. These findings underscore the need for culturally sensitive approaches in assessing children's responses to interparental conflict and their potential associations with child development over time.
Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Japan
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1Osaka University, Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka, Japan; 2Tokyo Metropolitan Ohtsuka Hospital, Tokyo, Japan; 3Sagamihara Child Consultation Center, Kanagawa, Japan; 4Tokyo Metropolitan University, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Tokyo, Japan; 5Yokohama National University, College of Education, Kanagawa, Japan; 6National Institute for Educational Policy Research, Early Childhood Education Research Center, Tokyo, Japan; 7Japan Women’s University, Faculty of Integrated Arts and Social Sciences, Tokyo, Japan; 8University of Tsukuba, Faculty of Human Sciences, Tokyo, Japan