Publication Date

2017

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Pittman, Laura D.

Degree Name

Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy)

Legacy Department

Department of Psychology

LCSH

Psychology; Families

Abstract

According to the cognitive-contextual framework, exposure to interparental conflict (IPC) is associated with the formation of threat/self-blame appraisals, coping behaviors, and internalizing symptoms among adolescents. Past research also suggests that family cohesion and gender may influence adolescents' response to IPC. The full cognitive-contextual framework was examined using structural equation modeling (SEM) with Mplus programing among 207 high school students in a public, midwestern high school. Results show questionable fit for the full model. Additionally, indirect pathways were found between IPC and internalizing symptoms through appraisals of threat and self-blame. An indirect pathway was also found through threat appraisals and primary control coping. Indirect pathways involving threat appraisals and secondary control coping, self-blame appraisals and primary control coping, and self-blame appraisals and secondary control coping were nonsignificant. Furthermore, the interaction term of IPC and family cohesion did not predict either appraisals of threat or self-blame. The interaction term of IPC and gender predicted threat appraisals so that girls demonstrated higher levels of threat appraisals than boys. This interaction term did not predict self-blame appraisals. Implications of this study are discussed.

Comments

Advisors: Laura D. Pittman.||Committee members: David Bridgett; Nina Mounts; Julia Ogg; Thomas Smith; Karen White.||Includes illustrations.||Includes bibliographical references.

Extent

112 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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