We examined the nature and directionality of associations between
interparental discord and parenting practices in a sample of 227
mothers and fathers of kindergarten children over two measurement waves
spaced 1 year apart. Cross-lagged models indicated that associations
between interparental discord and maternal and paternal parenting
practices (i.e., acceptance, discipline) were generally negligible with
one exception: interparental discord at Time 1 predicted decreases in
maternal acceptance from Time 1 to Time 2. However, consistent with the
family systems conceptualization of the family as an open system,
prospective associations among interparental and parent–child
subsystems varied significantly as a function of parental depressive
symptoms, interparental relationship insecurity, and child-rearing
disagreements. The moderating role of adult characteristics commonly
varied across the type of adult vulnerability (e.g., depressive
symptoms, interparental relationship insecurity, child-rearing
disagreements), dimension of parenting practices (e.g., maternal and
paternal acceptance and inconsistent discipline), and the
directionality of the paths between interparental and
parent–child subsystems.This
research was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health
(Project R01 MH 57318) awarded to Patrick T. Davies and E. Mark
Cummings. Melissa L. Sturge–Apple was supported by a postdoctoral
National Research Service Award from the National Institute of Mental
Health (F32 MH 66596). The authors are grateful to the children,
parents, teachers, and school administrators who participated in this
project. Gratitude is also expressed to the staff who assisted with the
project, including Courtney Forbes, Marcie Goeke–Morey, Amy
Keller, Michelle Sutton, and the graduate and undergraduate students at
the University of Rochester and the University of Notre
Dame.