title: The effect of communication change on long-term reductions in child exposure to conflict: impact of the promoting strong African American families (ProSAAF) program.
abstract: African American couples (n = 331) with children, 89% of whom were married, were assigned to either (a) a culturally sensitive couple- and parenting-enhancement program (ProSAAF) or (b) an information-only control condition in which couples received self-help materials. Husbands averaged 41 years of age and wives averaged 39 years. We found significant effects of program participation in the short term on couple communication, which was targeted by the intervention, as well as over the long term, on self-reported arguing in front of children. Long-term parenting outcomes were fully mediated by changes in communication for wives, but not for husbands. For husbands, positive change depended on amount of wife reported change. We conclude that wives' changes in communication from baseline to posttest may be more pivotal for the couples' long-term experience of decreased arguing in front of children than are husbands' changes, with wives' changes leading to changes in both partners' reports of arguments in front of children.
authors.affiliation: Center for Family Research, University of Georgia, Athens, GA.
authors.forename: Steven R H
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Beach
authors.forename: Allen W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Barton
authors.forename: Man Kit
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.forename: Gene H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Brody
authors.forename: Steven M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kogan
authors.forename: Tera R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Hurt
authors.forename: Frank D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Fincham
authors.forename: Scott M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Stanley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D054521:Cultural Competency; D004505:Education, Nonprofessional / Q000379:methods*; D054541:Family Conflict / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009679:Nuclear Family / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D016487:Parenting / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D057566:Self Report; D018454:Spouses / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Co-parenting; Communication; Conflict; Marriage; cocrianza; comunicación; conflicto; matrimonio; 交流; 共同养育子女; 冲突; 婚姻