| From a cognitive behavioral perspective there is an established relationship between cognitions, affect and behaviors, but no study to date has considered all aspects of the cognitive behavioral model in relationship to the mother and daughter problem solving process. As a step to understand the association between interparental conflict and parenting behaviors, this study considered whether effective maternal parenting behaviors, video mediated recall of cognitions and mood would vary upon levels of interparental conflict. Additionally, the impact of interparental conflict on adolescents' cognitions and affect was also assessed.;The sample included 34 mothers and their adolescent daughters between the ages of 11 and 16, who all participated in a problem solving activity. Each mother and daughter chose three topics that caused conflict in their relationship over the past month. Current video technology was used to capture the mother and adolescent interactions for 10 minutes. Immediately following, both mothers and adolescents participated in an audio recorded video mediated recall procedure. Parenting behaviors were then coded for engagement (Restrepro, 1986), responsiveness (Nadeem, Romo, Sigmun, Lefkowitz & Au, 2007), positive statements (Ohr, Vidair, Vargas & Hoag, 2004) and resolution of conflict (Smatana, Yau & Hanson, 1991). Both mothers' and adolescents' thoughts were coded as functional, dysfunctional or neutral.;Results supported the relationship between interparental conflict, parenting behaviors, maternal affect and maternal dysfunctional thoughts. Mothers who viewed their interparental relationship as high in conflict used fewer positive parenting strategies, generated more frequent dysfunctional thoughts during the video mediated recall and also exhibited more negative mood states. Support was not found for a relationship between adolescents' perceptions of inter-parental conflict, their cognitions or affect. The findings have been discussed in relation to a cognitive behavioral framework and implications for therapeutic practice. |
