The Linkage between Marital Quality and the Parent-Child Relationship: A Meta-Analysis.

Abstract

This study used meta-analysis to explore the magnitude and direction of the linkage between marital and parent-child relations. The study also assessed variables that might moderate this association or provide insight regarding possible mechanisms responsible for such an association. A search of electronic databases provided 51 studies, including dissertations, for analysis. The analysis examined 12 moderator variables: (1) the operational definition of marital quality; (2) the operational definition of parent-child relationship; (3) parent gender; (4) child gender; (5) parent/child gender; (6) method of assessment; (7) timing of measurement; (8) birth order; (9) developmental stage of the family life cycle; (10) child's versus adult's perspective; (11) family stress level; and (12) publication status. Meta-analysis revealed an overall positive relationship between the quality of marital and parent-child relationships. Overt marital conflict was more strongly related to the quality of the parent-child relationship than was marital satisfaction. The father-daughter relationship was more strongly associated with the marital relationship than were mother-daughter or mother-son relationships. Birth order was the only variable which did not moderate the association between marriage and parenting. (MM) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** Marital and Parent-Child Relations U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office or Educational Research and improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) XTnis document nas been reproduced as received from the person or Organization ongtnahng it Miner Changes nave ioeen made to improve reproduction ouatity Points of new or OpiniOnsstalecl in In* doCu mem do not necessarily represent official OE RI position or policy The Linkage between Marital Quality and the Parent-Child Relationship A Meta-Analysis Bonnie Burman University of California, Los Angeles Osnat Erel University of Southern California 'PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY hvvc\\RrP)Q...V MON TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC' 1 -% Paper Presented at the 60th Anniversary Meeting (1993) of the Society for Research in Child Development, New Orleans, LA, March, 1993