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Youth & Society, Vol. 38, No. 1, 58-89 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/0044118X06287862

The Impact of Marital Conflict and Disruption on Children’s Health

Sharon K. Houseknecht

Ohio State University, houseknecht.1{at}osu.edu

Darcy W. Hango

McGill University

This article investigates the effect of inconsistency between parental marital conflict and disruption on children’s health. Inconsistent situations arise when minimal marital conflict precedes disruption or when marital conflict is high but there is no disruption. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, two alternative hypotheses, the stress vulnerable hypothesis and the stress resistant hypothesis, are tested. The latter hypothesis is based on recent evidence in the medical field. The results support the stress resistant hypothesis in that boys’ health is enhanced when there is inconsistency between marital conflict and disruption. There are no significant effects for girls. The widespread notion that marital conflict and disruption have only adverse effects for children is challenged by the findings in this study.

Key Words: divorce • marital conflict • childhood • health • well-being • stress


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