Interparental conflict and preschoolers' naturally-occurring peer interactions: The moderating effects of child temperament and gender.

Abstract

The relations between destructive interparental conflict (IPC) and 3- to 6-year-olds' (N = 74) naturally-occurring peer interactions were examined as a function of child temperament (i.e., effortful control, positive emotionality, and negative emotionality) and gender. Mothers completed reports of IPC, teachers completed measures of the children's temperament, and naturalistic observations were conducted to assess children's interactions with various peers. Effortful control and to a certain extent positive emotionality acted as protective factors, as high IPC was associated with high amount and quality of peer interactions and low negative affect with peers for preschoolers high in eftortful control. IPC also was positively related to quality of interactions for children high in positive emotionality. Regarding gender, high IPC was associated with low amount of interaction for girls but not boys. In addition, IPC was negatively related to negative affect with peers for both boys and girls, although this association was stronger for girls. Findings highlight the need for examining individual differences in the relations between IPC and the development of peer relations during early childhood.