Cognitive and Contextual Factors Mediating the Relation Between Interparental Conflict and Adolescents' Psychological Maladjustment

The present study tested the effects of interparental conflict on adolescents' psychological adjustment as mediated by cognitive (threat, self-blame, and triangulation) and contextual (maternal and paternal rejection) factors. The sample for this study consisted of 524 high school students (48 % boys and 52 % girls) ranging in age from 11 through 18 years (M = 13.28 years, SD = 1.14). The sample was selected from 19 schools of 3 major cities in Bangladesh. Data were collected using a package of self-report measures that include: (1) the Children's Perception of Interparental Conflict Scale; (2 and 3) the Child version (short form) of the Parental Acceptance and Rejection Questionnaire for Mothers and for Fathers; (4) the Child version of the Personality Assessment Questionnaire; and (5), the Personal Information Form for demographic information. Results of Bootstrapping Multiple Mediation Analysis showed that both cognitive and contextual factors mediated the effects interparental conflict on adolescents' psychological maladjustment.