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The Link Between Financial Strain, Interparental Discord and Children’s Antisocial Behaviors

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Abstract

Using data from the Fragile Families and Child Well-Being Study, I examine the impact of interparental discord on children’s antisocial behaviors in families facing financial hardship. Structural Equation Modeling analysis of 1222 pairs of parents shows that financial hardship can create turmoil in families’ lives by increasing discord between parents. The findings are consistent with the notion that children who experience interparental discord have a higher disposition toward displaying antisocial behaviors. Multiple group analysis also reveals unique differences between mothers and fathers in terms of their conceptualization of strain, discord, and child outcome. While both mothers and fathers may attribute different meanings to financial adversity, their relationships with each other are significantly likely to suffer from household financial insecurity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, University of Oklahoma, 780 Van Fleet Oval, KH 331, Norman, OK, 73019, USA

    Yok-Fong Paat

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Correspondence to Yok-Fong Paat.

Appendix 1: Indicators for Measures

Appendix 1: Indicators for Measures

Children Antisocial Behaviors

  • ▪ Is disobedient.

  • ▪ Doesn’t get along with other children.

  • ▪ Doesn’t seem to feel guilty after misbehaving.

  • ▪ Is stubborn, sullen, or irritable.

  • ▪ Have sudden changes in mood or feelings.

  • ▪ Has temper tantrums or a hot temper.

Financial Strain

  • Difficulty paying bills (scale)

    • In the past 12 months,

      • ▪ Did you not pay the full amount of rent or mortgage payments?

      • ▪ Did you not pay the full amount of a gas, oil, or electricity bill?

      • ▪ Was your gas or electric service ever turned off, or the heating oil company did not deliver oil because there wasn’t enough money to pay the bills?

      • ▪ Did you borrow money from friends or family to help pay bills?

      • ▪ Was there anyone in your household who needed to see a doctor or go to the hospital but couldn’t go because of the cost?

      • ▪ Have you cut back on buying clothes for yourself

      • ▪ Have you worked overtime or taken a second job?

  • Difficulty buying food (scale)

    • In the past 12 months,

      • ▪ Did you receive free food or meals?

      • ▪ Was (child/were the children) ever hungry, but you just couldn’t afford more food?

      • ▪ Were you ever hungry, but didn’t eat because you couldn’t afford enough food?”

  • Difficulty paying for housing (scale)

    • ▪ Were you evicted from your home or apartment for not paying the rent or mortgage?

    • ▪ Did you move in with other people even for a little while because of financial problems?

    • ▪ Did you stay at a shelter, in an abandoned building, an automobile or any other place not meant for regular housing, even for one night?

Interparental Conflict and Violence

  • Emotional abuse (scale)

    • ▪ He/She is fair and willing to compromise when you have a disagreement.

    • ▪ He/She expresses affection or love for you.

    • ▪ He/She insults or criticizes you or your ideas (reverse coded).

    • ▪ He/She encourages or helps you to do things that are important to you.

    • ▪ He/She listens to you when you need someone to talk to.

    • ▪ He/She really understands your hurts and joys.

  • Physical attack and control (scale)

    • ▪ He/She tries slaps or kicks you (reverse coded).

    • ▪ He/She hits you with a fist or an object that could hurt you (reverse coded).

    • ▪ He/She withholds sex to try to control your behavior (reverse coded).

    • ▪ He/She throws something at you (reverse coded).

    • ▪ He/She pushes, grabs, or shoves you (reverse coded).

  • Power control (scale)

    • ▪ He/She tries to keep you from seeing or talking with your friends or family (reverse coded).

    • ▪ He/She tries to prevent you from going to work or school (reverse coded).

    • ▪ He/She withholds money, make you ask for money, or takes your money (reverse coded).

    • ▪ He/She tries to make you have sex or do sexual things you don’t want to do (reverse coded)

    • ▪ He/She insults or criticizes you for not taking good enough care of the child or your home (reverse coded)

Parenting concordance

  • ▪ When (father/mother) is with (child), he/she acts like the father/mother you want for your child.

  • ▪ You can trust (father/mother) to take good care of (child).

  • ▪ He/She respects the schedules and rules you make for (child).

  • ▪ He/She supports you in the way you want to raise (child).

  • ▪ You and (father/mother) talk about problems that come up with raising (child).

  • ▪ You can count on (father/mother) for help when you need someone to look after (child) for a few hours.

  • ▪ You respect (father/mother)’s wishes about how (child) should be raised.

Couple’s commitment

  • ▪ My relationship with father/mother is more important to me than almost anything else.

  • ▪ I may not want to be with (father/mother) a few years from now (reversed coded).

  • ▪ I like to think of (father/mother) and me more as a couple than as two separate people.

  • ▪ I want this relationship to stay strong no matter what rough times we may encounter.

  • ▪ I am happy with my sexual relationship with (father/mother).

  • ▪ I can trust that (father/mother) will not cheat on me with other people.

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Paat, YF. The Link Between Financial Strain, Interparental Discord and Children’s Antisocial Behaviors. J Fam Viol 26, 195–210 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-010-9354-0

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