The Role of Interparental Conflict in Divergent Perceptions of Parenting.

Objective: This study aimed to identify whether interparental conflict (IPC) is associated with patterns of convergence and divergence in parent-adolescent perceptions of parental warmth. Background: Adolescents and parents often have divergent perceptions of parenting (informant discrepancies). Parents engaged in IPC may be particularly prone to lapses in warmth, while simultaneously less likely to be aware of these lapses, leading to informant discrepancies in perceptions of parenting. Method: Data from 687 adolescents ( Results: Higher adolescent-reported IPC was associated with higher likelihood of divergence, in which adolescents perceived lower warmth than one or both parents. Mother- and father-reported IPC were also associated with patterns of divergence in which adolescents perceived lower warmth than parents, albeit less consistently than adolescent reports. Conclusion: Findings suggest IPC may impact the parent-child relationship to a greater degree for adolescents than parents, creating discrepancies. Implications: Additional research is needed in order to understand the nature and timing of the relationship between IPC and family informant discrepancies. A stronger understanding of the interrelations between IPC and discrepancies can inform prevention approaches with the goal of promoting healthy youth development and positive family relationships.