O'Connor Thomas G, Dunn Judy, Jenkins Jennifer M, Rasbash Jon
Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, NY 14642, USA.
J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2006 May;47(5):498-510. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2005.01527.x.
Previous studies have found that multiple factors are associated with parent-child relationship quality, but have not distinguished potential sources of between-family and within-family variation in parent-child relationship quality.
Approximately equal numbers of biological (non-stepfamilies), single-mother, stepfather, and complex/stepmother stepfamilies were selected from a large community study in England. The sample comprised 404 children in 171 families. Parent-child warmth/support and conflict/negativity were assessed using questionnaire and interview methods; family socio-demographic data were collected from parent report.
Multilevel model analyses indicated substantial within-family variation in parent-child relationship quality, and greater within-family variation in complex/stepmother families compared to other family types. Within-family variation was largely accounted for by differences in the siblings' biological relatedness to the mother and father and to child-specific factors, notably aggressive behavior.
The findings illustrate how research using multilevel model designs and analytic strategies may enhance our understanding of family process.
以往研究发现，多种因素与亲子关系质量相关，但未区分家庭间和家庭内亲子关系质量差异的潜在来源。
从英国一项大型社区研究中选取数量大致相等的亲生家庭（非继亲家庭）、单亲母亲家庭、继父家庭以及复杂/继母继亲家庭。样本包括171个家庭中的404名儿童。采用问卷调查和访谈方法评估亲子温暖/支持及冲突/消极情况；从家长报告中收集家庭社会人口学数据。
多层次模型分析表明，亲子关系质量在家庭内部存在显著差异，与其他家庭类型相比，复杂/继母继亲家庭的家庭内差异更大。家庭内差异很大程度上是由兄弟姐妹与母亲和父亲的生物学亲缘关系差异以及特定于孩子的因素造成的，尤其是攻击性行为。
研究结果说明了使用多层次模型设计和分析策略的研究如何能够增进我们对家庭过程的理解。
