Does child gender moderate the relationship between interparental conflict and child outcomes?

The hypothesis that child gender moderates the relationship between interparental conflict (IPC), conceptualized
as a normative phenomenon, and child outcomes was evaluated using Danish mother data from the Danish
Longitudinal Survey of Children (DALSC), which follows a nationally representative sample of children
born in September-October 1995. IPC was assessed at age seven using a five-item scale measuring frequency
of quarrels between parents on topics common to daily family life. Child outcomes were evaluated at age eleven
using three indicators of internalizing (emotional problems, somatic symptoms, psychological symptoms)
and two indicators of externalizing symptoms (conduct problems and hyperactivity). OLS regression analyses
indicated, overall, that the longitudinal association between IPC and the chosen outcomes was weak and child
gender weakly moderated the association between IPC and child outcomes. Specifically, gender differences
were limited only to conduct problems after controlling for the child’s psycho-social adjustment and health
characteristics, mother’s depressive symptoms and disciplinary behaviour and parents’ socio-economic status
at age 7. Furthermore, contrary to expectations derived from the male vulnerability and differential reactivity
models, the IPC-conduct problems association was stronger among girls than among boys. In general, IPC
predicted a number of outcomes among girls but did not predict any among boys. These findings suggest that
it is important in both academic and professional work to consider that the impact of IPC on boys and girls
may vary depending on the nature of the conflict and the type of families affected by it. Furthermore, while
IPC may not have a direct impact over time, its effects may continue to be felt through other elements of the
family system, such as the parent-child relationship.