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We examined how children's, parents', and observers' perceptions of the marital relationship are linked with children's adjustment. Children's perceptions of the marital relationship were assessed using a new measure, the Interparental Relationship Interview for Children (IRIC). In the first phase of the study, 63 preschoolers, 63 mothers, and 56 fathers completed questionnaires assessing the interparental relationship. Teachers assessed the children's adjustment. In the second phase, 39 of the couples enacted a typical conflictual marital interaction. Findings established the reliability and validity of the IRIC and revealed that the IRIC uniquely contributes to the prediction of children's externalizing and internalizing behavior problems. Taken together, the different perspectives of the marital relationship explained 36% of the variance in children's externalizing behavior problems. These results suggest the promise of the IRIC and demonstrate the unique contribution of the young child's perspective.

Examined whether links between the marital relationship and sibling interaction were directed or mediated by the mother-child relationship. Found that older siblings' negative behavior was linked with negative dimensions of the marital and mother-child relationship. Younger siblings' negative behavior was linked with the mother-child and differential mother-child relationship. Siblings' positive behavior was linked with birth spacing. (Author)

One hundred and thirty-four second- and fourth-grade students from two schools in Israel were measured individually using a Hebrew adaptation of the Violence Exposure Scale—Revised (VEX-R), a self-report scale measuring children's exposure to everyday violence. Children reported exposure as a function of situation (witness or victim) and setting (home, school, or neighborhood). They also reported on their own distress symptoms. The children's mothers also completed the VEX-R, indicating how they expected their child would report, and the Child Behavior Checklist. Children reported more exposure to violence at school compared to either the home or neighborhood, and more as witnesses than victims. Most of the violence reported was mild (e.g., pushing, chasing), while severe violence (e.g., shooting, stabbing) was rare in all settings. Children who reported themselves as frequent victims of violence were rated by their mothers as exhibiting more behavior problems than those reporting less victimization. The results support the validity of the VEX-R as a measure of exposure to violence for young children. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]