Abstract
Previous studies of the association between multiple parental relationship transitions (i.e., when a parent begins or terminates
an intimate relationship involving cohabitation) and offspring antisocial behavior have varied in their efforts to rule out
confounding influences, such as parental antisocial behavior and low income. They also have been limited in the representativeness
of their samples. Thus, it remains unclear to what degree parents’ multiple relationship transitions have independent effects
on children’s antisocial behavior. Analyses were conducted using data on 8,652 6–9-year-old, 6,911 10–13-year-old, and 6,495
14–17-year-old offspring of a nationally representative sample of U.S. women. Cousin-comparisons were used in combination
with statistical covariates to evaluate the associations between maternal relationship transitions and offspring antisocial
behavior in childhood and adolescence. Cousin-comparisons suggested that associations between maternal relationship transitions
and antisocial behavior in childhood and early adolescence are largely explained by confounding factors. In contrast, the
associations between maternal relationship transitions and offspring delinquency in late adolescence were robust to measured
and unmeasured confounds. The present findings suggest that interventions aimed at reducing exposure to parental relationship
transitions or addressing the psychosocial consequences of exposure to parental relationship transitions could reduce risk
for offspring delinquency in late adolescence.
an intimate relationship involving cohabitation) and offspring antisocial behavior have varied in their efforts to rule out
confounding influences, such as parental antisocial behavior and low income. They also have been limited in the representativeness
of their samples. Thus, it remains unclear to what degree parents’ multiple relationship transitions have independent effects
on children’s antisocial behavior. Analyses were conducted using data on 8,652 6–9-year-old, 6,911 10–13-year-old, and 6,495
14–17-year-old offspring of a nationally representative sample of U.S. women. Cousin-comparisons were used in combination
with statistical covariates to evaluate the associations between maternal relationship transitions and offspring antisocial
behavior in childhood and adolescence. Cousin-comparisons suggested that associations between maternal relationship transitions
and antisocial behavior in childhood and early adolescence are largely explained by confounding factors. In contrast, the
associations between maternal relationship transitions and offspring delinquency in late adolescence were robust to measured
and unmeasured confounds. The present findings suggest that interventions aimed at reducing exposure to parental relationship
transitions or addressing the psychosocial consequences of exposure to parental relationship transitions could reduce risk
for offspring delinquency in late adolescence.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-14
- DOI 10.1007/s10802-012-9667-y
- Authors
- Jackson A. Goodnight, Department of Psychology, University of Dayton, 300 College Park, Dayton, OH 45469-1430, USA
- Brian M. D’Onofrio, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Andrew J. Cherlin, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Robert E. Emery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Carol A. Van Hulle, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Benjamin B. Lahey, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Journal Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
- Online ISSN 1573-2835
- Print ISSN 0091-0627