Impact of Interparental Conflict and Maternal Attachment on College Students’ Social Anxiety and Emotional Regulation

Abstract

The potential impact that interparental conflict experienced during adolescence can have subsequently on college students was examined. The literature has demonstrated a positive relationship between interparental conflict and emotional dysregulation (Schwarz et al., 2012) and social anxiety (Adare et al., 2021). Maternal attachment was examined as a mediator of this relationship, as El-Sherkiah and Elmore-Staton (2004) identified it as a mediator between martial conflict and negative child outcomes. Specifically, this study examined the relationship between interparental conflict with social anxiety and emotional dysregulation. Additionally, this study examined maternal attachment as a mediator of those relationships. Interparental conflict was correlated positively with both social anxiety symptoms and emotional dysregulation. A negative correlation was found between interparental conflict and the proposed mediator (maternal attachment). However, maternal attachment did not mediate the relationship between interparental conflict and social anxiety symptoms, nor did it mediate the relationship between interparental conflict and emotional dysregulation.

Date of Award	2024
Original language	American English
Awarding Institution	Eastern Illinois University
Supervisor	Wesley Allan (Supervisor)