<\/p>\n
Low-level, poorly resolved conflict between parents \u2013 bickering, giving the cold shoulder, eye-rolling \u2013 can seem inconsequential. It isn\u2019t physical violence, after all. But it is a feature in many families. And such behavior may help explain enduring mental health problems for many children, including depression, anxiety, poor sleep, and aggressive behavior.<\/p>\n
Reducing this type of chronic interparental conflict and tension helps children feel the emotional security they need for robust mental health \u2013 not only when they are young but also as adults.<\/p>\n
Most people recognize that engaging in yelling matches, throwing things, and acting in ways that are physically aggressive are unhealthy conflict behaviors that can harm children\u2019s development. However, the wider issue is more subtle. It\u2019s about how parents tackle commonplace, sometimes tiny disagreements that all couples can expect to have – conflicts that are natural, inevitable occurrences in any intimate relationship.<\/p>\n
A disagreement might be about politics. It might be about who folds the laundry. Many parents don\u2019t see eye to eye on issues related to work-life balance \u2013 they may argue about who is spending enough time on child care. A couple from one of our studies was adamant that they had never had a conflict in 27 years of marriage. Eventually, they acknowledged that for nearly three decades, they had disagreed about whether the peanut butter should be kept in the pantry or the refrigerator.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s about how parents tackle commonplace, sometimes tiny disagreements that are natural, inevitable occurrences in any intimate relationship.\u201d<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n