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Reciprocal Associations Among Maternal and Child Characteristics of At‐Risk Families: A Longitudinal Actor–Partner Interdependence Model
Author(s) -
Claridge Amy M.,
Wojciak Armeda S.,
LettenbergerKlein Cassandra G.,
Pettigrew Haley V.,
McWey Lenore M.,
Chaviano Casey L.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of marital and family therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.868
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1752-0606
pISSN - 0194-472X
DOI - 10.1111/jmft.12084
Subject(s) - neglect , psychology , partner effects , developmental psychology , interdependence , fragile families and child wellbeing study , perception , depressive symptoms , reciprocal , longitudinal study , quality (philosophy) , domestic violence , suicide prevention , clinical psychology , poison control , medicine , psychiatry , cognition , epistemology , linguistics , philosophy , environmental health , pathology , neuroscience , political science , law
Researchers have found linear associations among maternal and child characteristics. However, family systems theorists suggest that relationships are more complex and family members are interdependent. We used actor–partner interdependence modeling to unravel associations among maternal and child characteristics to predict outcomes in adolescence. We used data from 361 mother–child dyads from the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect and found both actor and partner effects. Maternal depression and history of victimization were associated with children's later reports of lower mother–adolescent relationship quality. Children's perceptions of relationship quality were also associated with mothers' later depressive symptoms and perceptions of relationship quality. Overall, results highlighted interdependence among mothers and their children over time. We discuss implications for marriage and family therapists.