Abstract

GOMEZ-ORTIZ, Olga; MARTIN, Lourdes  and  ORTEGA-RUIZ, Rosario. Parental Conflict, Divorce and Childhood Anxiety. Pensam. psicol. [online]. 2017, vol.15, n.2, pp.67-78. ISSN 1657-8961.  https://doi.org/10.11144/Javerianacali.PPSI15-2.cpda.

Objective. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between child anxiety, parental conflict and divorce, taking into account gender and education level of children. Method. The study had a transversal, retrospective, ex post facto, group, and multiple measures design. Ninety-four primary schoolchildren of Cádiz, Spain, (52.13% male and 47.87% female; average = 8.24) filled out the self-report Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children and answered other questions to define the relationship between their parents. Results. t-student results showed no differences in anxiety levels among schoolchildren whose parents were divorced or married. However, the level of parental conflict determined the presence of differences in levels of child anxiety; the girls who described the relationship between their parents as highly conflictive were those who reflected the greatest increase in anxiety. Conclusion. The importance of family relationships on children's development and psychosocial well-being is discussed, highlighting the need to achieve a peaceful and harmonious marital relationship, and to promote emotional stability for the children.

Keywords : Divorce; parental conflict; family; anxiety; childhood psychopathology.

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