Quantifying Cohesion in the Parent-Child Relationship Family System

Developmental psychologist Dr. Kirby Deater-Deckard, Professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, is using an MRI grant to examine parent-child similarity and consistency of relational behaviors. Dr. Deater-Deckard hopes to identify patterns that promote or impede cohesion that may influence mental and behavioral health.

The specific research questions include: 1. How much between-family variation is there in parent child similarity and consistency (over time), and can this variation be assessed reliably? 2. Is the variability in parent-child similarity and consistency linked with variation in the parent’s and child’s mental and behavioral health (eg. anxiety or depressive symptoms, aggression)? 3. Do the answers to these questions vary across a range of child/adolescent ages, genders, cultural groups, or socioeconomic status levels?

The findings will inform future research that seeks to improve the efficacy of interventions for family functioning. Dr. Deater-Deckard and his group hope that quantifying the degree and direction of similarity/dissimilarity on measures of relationship functioning and identifying areas of low stability functioning can provide therapists with clear and concrete targets for change with their clients. By quantifying parent-child similarity and stability practitioners can develop more holistic understanding of family relationships and of each individual’s family health and functioning.