HHS HealthBeat (April 28, 2006)

Parents fight, kids hurt.

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

When parents battle, kids can lose. Studies in the journal Child Development say parents’ fights can leave kids feeling anxious and insecure – and lead to behavior problems such as yelling and throwing things.

Researchers say parents who showed more open hostility – or cold-shoulder aloofness – had kids who showed more stress, a year later.

Patrick Davies of the University of Rochester, whose work was supported by the National Institutes of Health, says neither letting it all out nor holding it all in works. Davies has another approach:

"It seems OK for parents to express their anger verbally, as long as it’s mild and as long as you work together as a team toward this goal of resolving your problems." (eight seconds)

Davies says even if you don’t resolve the conflict, it’s good for the kids to see you trying.

Learn more at www.hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I'm Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: August, 15 2006