Path analysis of the mediating role of fathers' communication patterns in model expression between father’s marital conflict with emotional and behavioral problems of adolescent – boys

The negative impact of the role of parental conflict on adolescent mental health has been confirmed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to mediate fathers' communication patterns in relation to their marital conflict model with emotional-behavioral problems in adolescent - boys.

This study is a quantitative research with correlation method. 10 male high schools were randomly selected from the Gonbad Kavus male high schools. Then, 344 people were selected randomly based on the Cochran formula and population share of each high school. Marital conflict questionnaire and communication patterns were completed by fathers, and adolescents' self-report questionnaire was completed by boys. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation test and path analysis.

Path analysis in structural equation modeling showed that marital conflict related to non-constructive communication patterns of fathers was more involved in shaping and exacerbating boys' behavioral problems (β = 0.8240) than their emotional problems (β = 0.7189). In addition, it seems that fathers who tried to use constructive communication patterns in spite of marital conflict moderated the negative effects of conflict on the total emotional (β = 0.5616) and behavioral (β = 0.6981) problems of their sons.

it is necessary to pay more attention to the role of parents, especially fathers, in the transition from adolescence period as a critical stage of life for development of normal changes. In addition, educational planning and psychological interventions to optimize adolescents' emotional-behavioral problems should be optimally provided.