The mediating role of couple's communication patterns in the relationship between marital conflict and internalized and externalized disorders in girls

Regarding the role of the family in the development of behavioral and emotional problems in adolescence، the purpose of this study was to examine the mediating role of couples’ communications patterns in the relationship between marital conflict and internalizing and externalizing problems in adolescent girls. For this purpose، 320 high school female students of Tehran and their mothers completed the marital conflict Questionnaire (MCQ)، the Communication Patterns Questionnaire (CPQ) and the Achenbach Adolescent Youth Self Report (YSR). The data were analyzed using the structural equation modeling approach. The results showed that in relative intermediary pattern، the relationship between the manufacturer and the non manufacturer of the pattern، all paths were statistically significant، except the path of between manufacturer، non manufacturer communication pattern and externalizing problems. There was a negatively significant relationship between the interactive constructive communication pattern and internalizing problems. Also، there was a negatively insignificant relationship between the interactive constructive communication pattern and externalizing problems. In the non-constructive pattern، the relationship between marital conflict and non constructive communication pattern was significantly positive and with internalizing problem was positive and significant. Also، with externalizing problems was positive and insignificant. Based on the results، it seems that marital conflict disrupts the couples’ communication patterns، leading to internalizing problems in adolescent girls.