The Impact of Mothers' Relationship Quality and Parenting on Children's Peer Relationships

This study examined the longitudinal effects of mothers' partner relationship quality on parenting behaviors and school-age children's peer relationships. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development archival data were used to examine parenting behaviors as a mediator between partner relationship quality and child peer outcomes using structural equation modeling. Maternal report was used to assess partner quality; a parent-child interaction task was used to measure parenting behaviors; teacher and child report were used to assess children's peer relationships. Maternal parenting behaviors partially mediated the association between partner quality and children's teacher-reported social-emotional outcomes with peers. Results are discussed in terms of the spillover hypothesis and implications for clinical interventions are discussed.