The Linkage between Marital Quality and the Parent-Child Relationship: A Meta-Analysis.

This study used meta-analysis to explore the magnitude and direction of the linkage between marital and parent-child relations. The study also assessed variables that might moderate this association or provide insight regarding possible mechanisms responsible for such an association. A search of electronic databases provided 51 studies, including dissertations, for analysis. The analysis examined 12 moderator variables: (1) the operational definition of marital quality; (2) the operational definition of parent-child relationship; (3) parent gender; (4) child gender; (5) parent/child gender; (6) method of assessment; (7) timing of measurement; (8) birth order; (9) developmental stage of the family life cycle; (10) child's versus adult's perspective; (11) family stress level; and (12) publication status. Meta-analysis revealed an overall positive relationship between the quality of marital and parent-child relationships. Overt marital conflict was more strongly related to the quality of the parent-child relationship than was marital satisfaction. The father-daughter relationship was more strongly associated with the marital relationship than were mother-daughter or mother-son relationships. Birth order was the only variable which did not moderate the association between marriage and parenting. (MM)