Conflict between parents.

Healthy relationships require a constant dance between holding on and letting go.

Children are sensitive to the conflict between parents, they make self-blaming attributions for this conflict. The withdrawal of parents from each other is a strong predictor of child maladjustment. Children do not adjust to the parental conflict but rather become more and more sensitised to it.

Young children may become more non-compliant and aggressive, whereas, in adolescents, internalising symptoms, such as depression, are more prevalent.

This does not mean that disagreements should be avoided. There will always be tension in relationships. Therefore, more constructive conflict communication between parents fosters children’s
emotional security and enhances their prosocial behaviour longitudinally
(McCoy, Cummings, & Davis, 2009).