Inter-parental Conflict on the Adolescent Adjustment - Research Paper Example

INTER-PARENTAL CONFLICT ON THE ADOLESCENT ADJUSTMENT of of the Study Inter-parental conflict on the adjustment of adolescents Purpose of the Study To compare two key research studies To identify the effects of inter-parental conflict on the adjustment of adolescents To study the total adjustment measures taken to help adolescents Comparative Analysis The key purpose of this research was to compare two studies Identify the effect of inter -parental conflicts on the adjustment of adolescents. Target Audience The target population for this intervention was adolescents in high school aged between 10 and 19 and parents likely to have experienced marital conflicts in their families. Target Frame of Duration This intervention workshop was supposed to take three hours with a twenty minutes interlude in between as a break. Objectives To identify the key themes in messages for counselors and practitioners To highlight findings and conclusions from the findings reviewed To identify the intervention features that is most effective in improving children outcomes and supporting parental engagement. Specific Techniques and Skills used to Achieve Objectives Information and communication technology ICT contributed to improved parental engagement by providing a convenient means for parents by helping them to access up-to-date information about their children’s learning. ICT also enabled parents to gain skills on how to engage with their children’s learning, and support more flexible working arrangements for them at home. Literacy on Family Issues These offered extensive evidence on the positive impact of parental engagement programmes on children’s literacy. Much effort focused on some aspects of literacy for example, training parents to teach specific skills concerning the importance of family to their children which was more likely to be effective than effort focused on other aspects for example, encouraging parents to listen to their children when stressed. Skills Developed At the start there was establishment of the requirements of the adolescents in the classroom. Almost every group had adolescents who required special considerations. It was clear that, the teacher was not expected to provide totally different programs to students but, the differences were manageable using a variety of approaches. The teacher was to determine the best methods to address adolescents’ needs. In atypical classroom, there may be several adolescents who require differentiated instruction depending on the intensity of the problem they face Research Study One Conducted by: Jessica M Fear, Kristen L. Reeslund, Bruce E and Lori Roberts of University of Vermont. Title: Inter-parental conflict and parental depression, children and adolescents self blame and coping responses. Year of study: 2014 Purpose of study: To examine the role of children adolescent’s behavior and perceptions amid parental conflicts as predictors of internalizing and externalizing behavior. Summary of the Study The study sampled 108 adolescents. Participating youth were sampled from parents with history of depression as a result of parental conflict. Assessment of student’s coping mechanism was done, with self blame as the common indicator if externalizing and internalizing behavior. The study sought to show correlation between effects of parent conflicts, secondary coping mechanisms and self blame cognitive behavior among adolescents. Study Method One and Design The study was a correlation: Participants shared common grounds of conflicting parents, registered different adolescent adjustment mechanisms. Researchers compared teenagers from married parents, divorced and those who were separated. No changes were supposed to be made on the groups to alter the results outcome. The study exhibited a developmental focus. This was a cross sectional survey because the main purpose of the research was to show whether or not a relationship exists between the effects of parental conflicts and outcome based on adolescents behavior Participants The original sample size was 204 adolescents from 152 families. The actual number of participants was 108 teenagers and parents. The number of parents in the study comprised of 91 mothers and 17 fathers. The participating adolescents were 58 females and 50 males. The mean age of parents was found to be 42 years while tat of adolescents was 11 years. The participating parents were required to possess an average of 4 year college degree with no history of schizophrenia and be married, separated or divorced. Data Collection Analysis and Procedure The participants were recruited from various health sources that included mental health centers, from medical practitioners. The advertisement was made through local newspapers, universities and community centers. The selection of the regions was based on depressed parents receiving treatment. The techniques included: Child behavior check list, Children’s perception on inter-parental conflict scale, questionnaires on stress and the youth self-report. Methods Criteria and Limitation In terms of objectivity and reliability, the questions were open ended to allow participants to fully express themselves. The study sample included mostly mothers and focused on one parent perception rather that both parents. Error variance was expected as parents were supposed to give apperception of parental conflict. Results Inter-parental conflict reports and adolescent reports showed a correlation relationship. All adolescents completed the CBCL and YSR where validity and reliability of the data was established. The regression models used showed similar symptoms of anxiety and aggression among teenagers. Adolescents were found to exhibit primary and secondary coping behavior and this predicted adolescent adjustment (Wolfe & Mash, 2008). Discussion I was found that adolescents who showed higher symptoms of self blame also showed higher levels of secondary coping mechanisms as way of adjustment to parental conflict. Higher levels of parental conflict resulted to increased levels of self blame, anxiety and aggression. Theoretical Perspective In this study, researchers showed tendency to believe that effects of parental conflicts impacted negatively on adolescent’s adjustment. Higher levels of parental conflict resulted to increased levels of self blame behaviors and increase in secondary coping behavior adjustments among adolescents. The study also outlines that behavior in adolescents can predict adjustments in conflicting families. This study successfully proved that parental conflicts create a negative development for individuals. Research Study Two Conducted by: Erin Atkinson, Cynthia Turner John Blums, and Bernice Lendich of Griffith University. Title of the Study: Family Conflict and Child Adjustment Year of Study: 2014 Purpose of Study: The main purpose of this study was to examine parents and adolescents perception of marital conflicts and its relation to adolescent adjustments. To examine different parental and teenagers resolutions styles. Summary of the Studies In this study, three groups of age between ten and fourteen years old were sampled to obtain perceptions of the conflict- resolution styles and behavioral adjustments. Girls were less exposed to inter parental conflict as opposed to boys. Study Two Method Design This study followed an experimental design. It included three different sample groups of adolescents in the sample. Study showed developmental focus. This was a cross sectional survey design, which included students from different age groups. Participants The study comprised of three sample groups. The adolescents who participated were aged between 10-14 years. The selection of participants covered a range of social economic families. The second sampled 65 male adolescents aged 12 years while the third sampled 112 females and 120 males and the mean age was 12 years. Participants with reading difficulties and who could not complete all aspects of study were disqualified. The participants completed questionnaires and self reports. Data Collection Procedure They included children’s perception questionnaires (CPQ) and the Children’s Perception Inter- parental Conflict Scale (CPICS). For measuring the parental conflict resolution styles, Family Conflict Styles Questionnaire was used. Finally, there was use of Depression Inventory which enhanced measurement of both internalizing and externalizing adolescent problems. Data Analysis Procedures There was the use of a standard multiple regression model in examining adolescents and parents conflict and their relationship on adjustment. The analysis used two independent variables. Methods Criteria and Limitations The criteria involved random selection of the participants to avoid vague validity, reliability and objectivity. The cross sectional design of the survey limited causal conclusions and hence longitudinal design was used. This was because reliance on questionnaire would limit data collected. Results Findings from the study were used to analyze the impact of parental conflicts on gender relationships among siblings. It was found that both cohorts exhibited similar results. Therefore, data from study two which represented the larger cohort was the standard data. Finally imaginary siblings where an adolescent was any child did not affect the studies. Discussion The aim of the study was to account whether children’s reports on conflict-resolution styles used by their parents could account for the degree of externalizing and internalizing adjustment behaviors demonstrated by adolescents. Findings from the three cohort studies showed to support that severity of parental conflicts have a correlative with adolescent adjustments. It was also found that boys exhibited a greater tendency to blame themselves for parental arguments. This implied that it was less unlikely that gender differences in adjustment of a child were due to explore to different levels of parental conflict. Theoretical Perspective The opinion of the researcher was that conflicts emerged as a significant predictor of adjustment behaviors in adolescents. The research hypothesis takes a cognitive approach by predicting adolescent’s behavior. Adolescents provide the best results on the level of family conflicts which is derived from internalizing and externalizing behavior. Citation Dadds, M. R., Atkinson, E., Turner, C., Blums, J., & Lendich, B. (1999). Family conflict and child adjustment: evidence for a cognitive-contextual model of intergenerational transmission. Journal of Family Psychology, 13(2), 194-208 Retrieved February 23, 2014, from web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.indstate.edu:2048/ehost/ pdfviewe/pdfviewer?sid=61bb40b3-6996-431f-90f1- a38de24e4da4%40sessionmgr4003&vid=13&hid=4107 Take Home Message This information should be incorporated in counseling clinics, schools and social services centers so as to have firsthand experience on handling adolescent related issues. Both studies showed correlation between effects adolescent adjustments and parental conflicts. In this case, both studies show clear and reliable results that seek to minimize parental conflicts in order to influence positive behavior change. References Wolfe, D. A., & Mash. (2008). Behavioral and Emotional Disorders in Adolescents. Toronto: Guilford Press. Read More