Relations between Characteristics of Collaborative and Oppositional Mother–Child Conflict

SYNOPSIS

Objective. Oppositional parent–child conflict interactions and inconsistent parenting practices have each been associated with more negative socioemotional outcomes for children. The current study aimed to identify groups of mother–child dyads based on average levels and variability in collaborative and oppositional conflict characteristics during a typical week. We also examined relations between conflict groups and child behaviors, maternal behaviors, and family demographic characteristics. Design. In a sample of 142 mothers of 5- to 8-year-old children, we assessed qualities of daily conflict interactions over one week via online parent reports. Results. Based on average levels of conflict collaboration and opposition, and variability in these qualities from one interaction to the next, we identified three mother–child conflict groups using latent profile analysis: temperate stable, negative volatile, and moderate. Temperate stable dyads included children who were older and displayed the least internalizing and externalizing behavior problems and included mothers who reported the least parenting distress. Conclusions. Distinct information was provided by variable-centered and person-centered analyses and inconsistencies in conflict characteristics – whether negative or positive – tended to co-occur in families.

ARTICLE INFORMATION

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: Each author signed a form for disclosure of potential conflicts of interest. No authors reported any financial or other conflicts of interest in relation to the work described.

Ethical Principles: The authors affirm having followed professional ethical guidelines in preparing this work. These guidelines include obtaining informed consent from human participants, maintaining ethical treatment and respect for the rights of human or animal participants, and ensuring the privacy of participants and their data, such as ensuring that individual participants cannot be identified in reported results.

Role of the Sponsors: The University of Texas at Dallas which sponsored this research did not have a role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; or decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

Acknowledgments: The authors thank the Family Research Lab students and the families who generously gave their time to the study. The ideas and opinions expressed herein are those of the authors alone, and endorsement by the authors’ institutions is not intended and should not be inferred.