Effects of a preventive parenting intervention for divorced families on the intergenerational transmission of parenting attitudes in young adult offspring

Nicole E. Mahrer, Emily Winslow, Sharlene Wolchik, Jenn-Yun Tein, Irwin Sandler

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study evaluates whether the New Beginnings Program (NBP), a parenting intervention for divorced mothers, led to positive parenting attitudes in young adult offspring. Data were collected from 240 mothers (G1) and offspring (G2) at ages 9-12 and again in adolescence and young adulthood. Alternative theoretical models were tested to examine mediators of NBP effects on G2 parenting attitudes. Significant interactions between condition and baseline G1 parenting indicated that NBP improved G2's parenting attitudes for those exposed to poorer G1 parenting at program entry. Effects on G2 warm attitudes were partially mediated through program effects on G1 warm parenting. The implications of improving parenting attitudes in offspring who experience parental divorce on well-being in the next generation are discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2091-2105
Number of pages15
JournalChild development
Volume85
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 2014

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Education
  • Developmental and Educational Psychology

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