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Family Structure and Problem Behavior of Adolescents and Young Adults: A Growth-Curve Study

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Abstract

In the present longitudinal 3-wave study of 1274 adolescents and young adults, aged 12–24 at the 1st wave, it is examined whether youngsters from intact versus postdivorce families show long-term differences in internalizing and externalizing problems. Furthermore, possible differences in the development of this problem behavior between offspring from intact and postdivorce families are examined, i.e., possible differences in growth curves of internalizing and externalizing problems are investigated. Longitudinal multilevel analyses reveal long-term differences in internalizing and externalizing problems according to family structure. Adolescents and young adults growing up in postdivorce families display more internalizing and externalizing problem behavior than youngsters of intact families. The development of these 2 types of problem behavior does not differ by gender or family structure. That is, the shape of the growth curves of internalizing and externalizing problem behavior is similar for boys and girls and also for youngsters from intact and postdivorce families.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Child and Adolescent Studies, Utrecht University, Utrecht, TC, P.O. Box 80140, 3508, The Netherlands

    Inge VanderValk Ph.D. (Postdoc Researcher)

  2. The University of Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Ed Spruijt Ph.D. (Associate Professor)

  3. Department of Methodology and Statistics, Utrecht University, The Netherlands

    Martijn de Goede Ph.D. (associate Professor)

  4. Department of Methodology and Statistics, Utrecht University, The Netherlands

    Cora Maas PH.D. (Assistent Professor)

  5. Utrecht University, The Netherlands

    Wim Meeus PhD (full Professor of Adolescent Development)

Authors
  1. Inge VanderValk Ph.D.
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  2. Ed Spruijt Ph.D.
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  3. Martijn de Goede Ph.D.
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  4. Cora Maas PH.D.
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  5. Wim Meeus PhD
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Correspondence to Inge VanderValk Ph.D..

Additional information

Inge VanderValk is a Postdoc Researcher at the Department of Child and Adolescent Studies, Utrecht University, the Netherlands. She received her Ph.D. in 2004 from Utrecht University. Her major research interests include associations between adolescent adjustment and parental marital quality and parental divorce.

Ed Spruijt is an Associate Professor at the University of Utrecht. He received his Ph.D. in 1983 from Utrecht University. His major research interests are the consequences of parental divorce and visitation arrangements on children.

Martijn de Goede is an associate Professor at Utrecht University, Department of Methodology and Statistics. He received his Ph.D. in 1988 from Utrecht University. His major research interests are occupational and relational life courses of youngsters.

Cora Maas is an Assistent Professor at Utrecht University, Department of Methodology and Statistics. She received her PH.D. in 1992 in Utrecht from Utrecht University. Her major interests are: multilevel analysis (theory and applications).

Wim Meeus is full Professor of Adolescent Development at Utrecht University. He received his Ph.D. in 1984 from Utrecht University. His major research interests are personality, identity, and relationships in adolescence.

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VanderValk, I., Spruijt, E., de Goede, M. et al. Family Structure and Problem Behavior of Adolescents and Young Adults: A Growth-Curve Study. J Youth Adolescence 34, 533–546 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-005-8841-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-005-8841-8

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