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Cited by 16Mindfulness and Compassion InterventionsChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional DevelopmentAttachment and Relationship Dynamics

Mindfulness Interventions to Reduce Impact of Interparental Conflict on Adolescents.

Open access
Lucas-Thompson, Rachel G., Seiter, Natasha S., Broderick, Patricia C., Coatsworth, J. Douglas·2020·Journal of Child and Family Studies
DOI 10.1007/s10826-019-01599-yPMC PMC8386821
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Abstract

Exposure to frequent, intense, and poorly resolved interparental conflict puts adolescents at risk for problems in many domains, including internalizing and externalizing problems, and stress physiological dysfunction. Existing intervention strategies to target these adolescents focus almost solely on improving marital dynamics, for example, through relationship education or couples therapy. However, interventions that aim to enhance marital communication require high levels of parental commitment and motivation for change, and may be expensive and time-consuming. In the current paper, we argue that it is essential to also apply intervention strategies that directly promote the regulatory capabilities of adolescents to improve outcomes for youth from high-conflict homes. Mindfulness, or present-moment, nonjudgemental awareness, is associated with myriad positive outcomes in adults (e.g., lower levels of depression and anxiety, and greater emotion regulation). We propose that mindfulness interventions are an ideal intervention strategy for adolescents from high conflict homes. Mindfulness interventions may target the mechanisms whereby destructive marital interaction impacts youth, by providing distance between experiences and evaluations, training regulation of attention, and enhancing self-compassion and nonjudgement, as well as by enhancing relationships. We also provide an example of a specific intervention model designed to increase mindfulness in youth, Learning to Breathe (L2B).

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This conceptual paper argues that adolescents exposed to destructive interparental conflict need interventions that directly build their regulatory capacities, not only programs that try to change marital dynamics. It proposes mindfulness training, especially the Learning to Breathe program, as a developmentally appropriate and potentially effective approach, while noting that this application has not yet been empirically tested.

Key findings

  • Existing efforts to help youth from high-conflict homes mostly target marital or relationship dynamics; among more than 150 adequately designed couple relationship education studies, only nine measured child functioning, and only one tested effects on adolescents (ages 4–17), with typical child effects small (d < 0.10).
  • Destructive interparental conflict is linked in the reviewed literature to internalizing and externalizing problems, altered stress physiology, cognitive and academic deficits, sleep problems, and disordered eating; adolescents may be especially vulnerable.
  • Mindfulness is argued to address direct mechanisms such as decentering from appraisals, attention regulation, and self-compassion/nonjudgment, as well as indirect mechanisms such as improved relationships and possible family-wide ripple effects.
  • The authors recommend Learning to Breathe (L2B) as a specific school- or community-deliverable program; they report evidence that L2B increases mindfulness and emotion regulation and reduces stress, depression, and externalizing behaviors, and note that no studies have yet tested mindfulness for adolescents exposed to interparental conflict.

Methods

  • Design: conceptual/review paper with theoretical argument and clinical recommendation; not an empirical study.
  • Data or sample: no new sample or dataset; it synthesizes prior literature on interparental conflict, adolescent development, mindfulness, and intervention programs.
  • Main analysis: narrative synthesis and mechanistic reasoning; no systematic review, meta-analysis, or primary outcome analysis is reported.

Limitations

  • Stated: the authors note that no studies have investigated whether mindfulness interventions improve outcomes for adolescents exposed to destructive interparental conflict; indirect effects via improved parent-adolescent relationships are described as speculative because evidence in adolescence is lacking.
  • Stated: evidence that relationship or marital interventions benefit adolescents is limited, and more research is warranted.
  • Evident from the text: the recommendation rests on extrapolation from other populations and from L2B studies not focused on high-conflict homes; no feasibility, acceptability, or efficacy data for this specific population are presented.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1007/s10826-019-01599-y

Cites

102 of 102 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

21 of 114 cited sources checked · 8 supported · 0 flagged · accuracy not yet measured

  • Premisecitation

    Appraising conflict as threatening to self or family and/or feeling self-blame is particularly risky for children's adjustment and regulation.

    “Appraising conflict as threatening to the self or family, and/or feeling self-blame for interparental conflict is particularly risky for children in terms of adjustment and regulation”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Gerard et al. 2005 source
    • cites Lucas-Thompson et al. 2015 source

      The Discussion links threat appraisals to internalizing problems and self-blame to both internalizing and externalizing problems. It also reports that self-blame predicted flattened cortisol slopes, but threat appraisals were not related to the diurnal cortisol measure studied. Thus the adjustment claim is supported, while the regulation claim is supported for self-blame, not threat. (LLM, conf=0.86)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Premisecitation

    Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the effects of interparental conflict compared to younger children.

    “given findings that adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the effects of interparental conflict as compared to younger children”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Rhoades 2008 source

      The Discussion reports that older children had stronger associations between their responses to interparental conflict and adjustment problems than younger children, and contrasts elementary-age children with adolescents. It does not establish that interparental conflict itself has a stronger effect on adolescents than on younger children; the measured age difference concerns the link between responses and adjustment. (LLM, conf=0.86)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Premisecitation

    Multiple studies suggest mindfulness training can improve relationship satisfaction and quality in adults in romantic relationships or parents.

    “Multiple studies suggest that mindfulness training can improve relationship satisfaction and quality, although these studies have targeted adults in romantic relationships (e.g., Carson et al. 2004) or parents (e.g., Coatsworth et al. 2015).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Carson et al. 2004 source
    • cites Coatsworth et al. 2015 source
  • Premisecitation

    Individual studies highlight the effectiveness of mindfulness interventions for increasing emotion- and self-regulation.

    “Individual studies highlight the effectiveness of mindfulness interventions for increasing emotion- and self-regulation (Eva and Thayer 2017; Fung et al. 2016; Metz et al. 2013).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Eva and Thayer 2017 source

      The Results (Perceived Benefits: Key Themes; page unavailable) report participants’ perceived benefits in self-regulation, including managing emotions. But the study did not measure emotion regulation as a separate outcome, and the Discussion (Focus Group Data; page unavailable) proposes doing so in a larger trial. The claim presents effectiveness more definitively than this pilot study establishes. (LLM, conf=0.84)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
    • cites Fung et al. 2016 source
    • cites Metz et al. 2013 source
  • Premisecitation

    Benefits of parent participation in a mindfulness intervention spill over from parents to the parent-child relationship and youth outcomes.

    “the benefits of parent participation in a mindfulness intervention spill over from parents’ themselves as individuals to the parent-child relationship and, in turn, youth outcomes (Bogels et al. 2013; Chaplin et al. 2018; Coatsworth et al. 2015).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Bogels et al. 2013 source
    • cites Chaplin et al. 2018

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Coatsworth et al. 2015 source

      The Abstract and Results report improvements in parent well-being and aspects of parent–youth relationship quality after the mindfulness-enhanced program. But the Method > Measures section lists parenting and family-functioning outcomes, not youth outcomes; the Discussion describes reduced risk of youth problems as a possible implication rather than a demonstrated spillover. The paper also does not establish the claimed sequence from individual parent benefits through the relationship to youth outcomes. (LLM, conf=0.88)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • May combine two claims. 40
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 22
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 1

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Frequent, intense, poorly resolved interparental conflict raises adolescents' risk for internalizing and externalizing problems and for stress physiological dysregulation.

    “Exposure to frequent, intense, and poorly resolved interparental conflict puts adolescents at risk for problems in many domains, including internalizing and externalizing problems, and stress physiological dysfunction.”
    • Also stated in: § Exposure to Destructive Interparental Conflict as a Risk Factor · plain
      “These negative effects include problems with both internalizing symptoms such as anxiety and depression as well as externalizing behaviors”
    • Also stated in: § Exposure to Destructive Interparental Conflict as a Risk Factor · plain
      “Destructive interparental conflict is also linked with dysregulated stress physiology, both in response to acute stressors”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Lucas-Thompson et al. 2015 source
    • cites Zimet and Jacob 2001 source
    • cites Ablow et al. 2009 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Destructive interparental conflict is associated with cognitive and academic deficits, reduced sleep quality and quantity, and increased disordered eating patterns.

    “It is also associated with deficits in cognitive and academic functioning (George et al. 2010), reduced quality and quantity of sleep (El-Sheikh et al. 2006), and increases in disordered eating patterns (George et al. 2014).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim2 of 3 sources checked
    • cites George et al. 2010 source

      The Measures section describes a simulated marital dispute, and the Results report lower parent-reported scholastic competence for children who were insecurely attached, emotionally distressed, and had high cortisol levels. This supports a qualified association with scholastic competence, not a general association between destructive interparental conflict and cognitive and academic deficits. The Discussion says the study did not examine actual academic performance; the sleep and eating clauses cite other papers, not George et al. (2010). No page numbers are available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.84)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
    • cites El-Sheikh et al. 2006 source
    • cites George et al. 2014 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Symptoms from interparental conflict often surpass clinical thresholds, and even subthreshold problems have long-term adverse consequences.

    “Symptoms often surpass clinical thresholds (Turner and Kopiec 2006), and even problems below these thresholds have long-term adverse consequences”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Turner and Kopiec 2006 source
    • cites Johnson and Greenberg 2013 source

      The paper’s introductory passage (labeled Abstract in our copy; page unavailable) says subsyndromal anxiety and depressive symptoms can cause significant distress, supporting adverse effects below diagnostic thresholds. It does not establish long-term consequences of those subthreshold symptoms or attribute them to interparental conflict. The clinical-threshold statement is separately cited to Turner and Kopiec (2006). (LLM, conf=0.84)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
    • cites Zimet and Jacob 2001 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Mindfulness has been shown to reduce stress and sleep problems.

    “Mindfulness has also been shown to reduce stress (Bluth et al. 2016), and also reduce sleep problems (Dvorakova et al. 2017).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim2 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Bluth et al. 2016 source
    • cites Dvorakova et al. 2017 source

      Only the sleep-problems claim is attributed to Dvořáková et al.; the stress claim cites Bluth et al. The Results report fewer sleep issues in the mindfulness group than in controls, but describe the difference as only marginally significant (p = .070). Saying mindfulness has been shown to reduce sleep problems overstates that finding. (LLM, conf=0.87)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Cognitive performance can be improved following mindfulness programs.

    “cognitive performance can be improved following mindfulness programs (Carsley et al. 2017; Zenner et al. 2014).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Carsley et al. 2017 source
    • cites Zenner et al. 2014 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Meta-analyses show that the vast majority of research supports CBT as the most effective treatment for adolescent anxiety and depression.

    “However, meta-analyses of individual therapy methods for children and adolescents clearly show that the “vast majority” (Chorpita et al. 2011, p. 159) of research supports Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as the most effective treatment for adolescent anxiety and depression”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Chorpita et al. 2011 source
    • cites Reynolds et al. 2012 source

      The review reports that the vast majority of its trials assessed CBT for anxiety and that CBT was effective for children and adolescents compared with passive or active controls (accepted manuscript; page unavailable). It does not assess depression, and the predominance of CBT trials does not establish that CBT is the most effective treatment relative to other therapies. (LLM, conf=0.88)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    According to some researchers, CBT is the only evidence-based treatment for youth.

    “In fact, according to some researchers’ designations, CBT is the only evidence-based treatment for youth”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Seligman and Ollendick 2011 source

      The “Evidence of Efficacy and Effectiveness” section (page not provided) calls CBT the only psychological treatment identified to date as evidence-based for anxiety disorders in youth. The citing sentence omits both limits, making the designation sound applicable to all treatments and all conditions in youth. (LLM, conf=0.88)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Parents who are more mindful have better coparenting and more satisfied relationships, which is indirectly related to more-positive adolescent perceptions of parenting and reduced internalizing and externalizing behaviors.

    “parents who are themselves more mindful have better coparenting, as well as more satisfied relationships, which is then indirectly related to more-positive adolescent perceptions of parenting as well as reduced internalizing and externalizing behaviors (Parent et al. 2014; Parent et al. 2016; Parent et al. 2016).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Parent et al. 2014 source
    • cites Parent et al. 2016 source

      The Results and Discussion report that more mindful parents had higher coparenting relationship quality, including greater agreement, support, and closeness. The paper does not report that they had more satisfied relationships or test an indirect link from those relationships to adolescents’ perceptions of parenting or to internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Its measured parenting outcomes were parents’ positive and negative parenting practices. (LLM, conf=0.88)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    There is consistent evidence that L2B results in increases in mindfulness and emotion regulation, as well as reductions in stress, depression, and externalizing behaviors.

    “there is consistent evidence that L2B results in increases in mindfulness and emotion regulation, as well as reductions in stress, depression, and externalizing behaviors (Bluth et al. 2016; Broderick and Metz 2009; Dvorakova et al. 2017; Eva and Thayer 2017; Fung et al. 2016, 2018; Metz et al. 2013; Shomaker et al. 2017).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim2 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Bluth et al. 2016 source

      The Results report a significant reduction in depression in the L2B class relative to the control class, but describe the favorable mindfulness and perceived-stress effects as uncertain and imprecise; the Discussion also cautions that the sample was small. The paper does not report improvements in emotion regulation or reductions in externalizing behaviors as study outcomes. Thus, it supports part of the multi-citation statement, but not the full claim of consistent evidence for every listed outcome. (LLM, conf=0.88)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
    • cites Broderick and Metz 2009 source
    • cites Dvorakova et al. 2017 source

      The Results report significantly lower depression among L2B participants, supporting that part of the claim. They also state that mindfulness did not differ significantly between groups. The Introduction describes improved emotion regulation in earlier adolescent L2B research, but this trial does not establish that outcome or report reductions in stress or externalizing behaviors. (LLM, conf=0.90)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Evidence from primarily adult populations suggests mindfulness training can improve physiological stress regulation.

    “Evidence from work with primarily adult populations also suggests that mindfulness training can improve physiological stress regulation (Brewer et al. 2009; Delgado et al. 2010; Lindsay et al. 2018).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Brewer et al. 2009 source
    • cites Delgado et al. 2010 source
    • cites Lindsay et al. 2018 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The mechanisms of interparental conflict effects are both direct, through changes to adolescent cognitive and emotional responses, and indirect, through changes to other family system elements.

    “The mechanisms of these effects are considered both direct (because of changes to the adolescent, notably cognitive and emotional responses to interparental conflict) and indirect (because of changes to other elements of the family system).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisereasoning

    Both parents may not be interested in changing destructive marital communication or motivated to devote time and energy.

    “Both parents in a family may not be interested in changing destructive marital communication patterns, or motivated to devote the time and/or energy required to do so.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Of more than 150 adequately designed CRE studies, only nine included measures of children's functioning, and only one tested effects on adolescents as well as children aged 4-17.

    “of the more than 150 adequately designed studies investigating the effectiveness of Couple Relationship Education (CRE) programs, only nine included measures of children’s functioning, and of these, only one intervention was tested for effects on adolescents as well as children (ages 4–17 years)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Cowan and Cowan 2014 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Improving marital interaction requires parental commitment to change, making adolescents dependent on parents for improvement in their own functioning.

    “Second, such an approach requires parental commitment to change, making adolescents dependent on parents for improvement in their own functioning.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Targeting interparental dynamics is consistent with a family-systems perspective and may be effective.

    “Although targeting interparental dynamics is consistent with a family-systems perspective, and may be effective as such”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Cox and Paley 1997 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Adolescents exposed to interparental conflict display sensitized emotional stress responses and often dampened physiological stress functioning.

    “Although adolescents exposed to interparental conflict display sensitized emotional stress responses (Cummings et al. 2007; Lucas-Thompson 2012), they often also display dampened physiological stress functioning”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Cummings et al. 2007 source
    • cites Lucas-Thompson 2012 source
    • cites Lucas-Thompson and Granger 2014 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Conflictual marital relationships drain parents' emotional resources, inhibiting their ability to support child regulation and provide adequate attentional and emotional resources.

    “Conflictual marital relationships drain parents’ emotional resources, and, as a result, inhibit parents’ abilities to serve as external supports of child regulation (Kopp 1989) and/or provide their children with adequate attentional and emotional resources (Easterbrooks and Emde 1988).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Kopp 1989 source
    • cites Easterbrooks and Emde 1988

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Destructive interparental interactions are stressful for adolescents to observe, provide poor models of effective coping, and threaten children's safety and security within the family.

    “destructive interparental interactions are stressful for adolescents to observe (Davies et al. 2007; El-Sheikh 1994), provide children with poor models of effective coping (Chorpita and Barlow 1998), and threaten children’s safety and security within the family system (Davies and Cummings 1994).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Davies et al. 2007 source
    • cites Chorpita and Barlow 1998 source
    • cites Davies and Cummings 1994 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Interventions that aim to enhance marital communication require high parental commitment and motivation for change and may be expensive and time-consuming.

    “However, interventions that aim to enhance marital communication require high levels of parental commitment and motivation for change, and may be expensive and time-consuming.”
    • Also stated in: § Existing Intervention Strategies · plain
      “improving marital interaction patterns is difficult, time-consuming, and expensive, particularly when couples are distressed”
    • Also stated in: § Existing Intervention Strategies · plain
      “such an approach requires parental commitment to change”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Blanchard et al. 2009 source
    • cites Cummings and Schatz 2012 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The small amount of research testing effects of relationship interventions on children suggests limited effectiveness, with effect sizes typically small (d < 0.10).

    “The small amount of research testing the effects of relationship interventions on children has suggested limited effectiveness in improving outcomes for children; for instance, in the relatively small number of studies investigating the effects of marital programs on children’s development, effect sizes are typically small (i.e., d < 0.10)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Cowan and Cowan 2014 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premiseown data

    Most research evaluating relationship interventions does not investigate effects on children; of those that do, most focus on early childhood.

    “Most of the research that evaluates the effects of relationship interventions do not investigate the effects of such interventions on children, and of those that do, most have focused on the effects on children who are in early childhood.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Mindfulness interventions can target the mechanisms by which destructive marital interaction affects youth, by creating distance between experiences and evaluations, training attention regulation, enhancing self-compassion and nonjudgement, and enhancing relationships.

    “Mindfulness interventions may target the mechanisms whereby destructive marital interaction impacts youth, by providing distance between experiences and evaluations, training regulation of attention, and enhancing self-compassion and nonjudgement, as well as by enhancing relationships.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Mindfulness is associated with positive outcomes in adults, including lower depression and anxiety and greater emotion regulation.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Effects of exposure to destructive interparental conflict can be long-lasting and can worsen over time.

    “These effects of exposure to destructive interparental conflict can be quite long-lasting (Amato et al. 1995) and can worsen over time.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Amato et al. 1995 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Evidence suggests targeting interparental dynamics may benefit adolescents, but this evidence is limited and more research is warranted.

    “Evidence suggests that targeting interparental dynamics may benefit adolescents (Faircloth et al. 2011), but this evidence is relatively limited, and more research on this topic is warranted”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Cowan and Cowan 2014 source
    • cites Faircloth et al. 2011 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisenone given

    The focus of CBT is on changing maladaptive automatic thoughts to reduce negative emotions and behavioral problems.

    “The focus of CBT is on changing maladaptive automatic thoughts that arise in the mind to reduce negative emotions and behavioral problems.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Some individual therapy methods have received some empirical support, including psychoeducation, exposure methods, modeling methods, and relaxation training.

    “Others have received some empirical support, including psychoeducation, exposure methods, modeling methods, and relaxation training”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Chorpita et al. 2011 source

  • May combine two claims. The quote only partly states this claim.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Mindfulness training may help adolescents more realistically and less automatically discern what they can change and what they cannot, and likely family consequences.

    “mindfulness training may help adolescents to more realistically and less automatically discern what they can do to change the situation and what they can’t”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    There are limitations to CBT for targeting children exposed to interparental conflict, which may explain why CBT treatment outcomes are attenuated for these children.

    “Therefore, there are limitations to CBT for targeting children exposed to interparental conflict, which may explain why CBT treatment outcomes are attenuated for children exposed to interparental conflict”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Coyne et al. 2008

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The Cummings and Schatz program was designed to fit within a universal prevention strategy, so all adolescents were included and teens exposed to destructive marital conflict were not directly targeted.

    “However, this program was designed to fit within a universal prevention strategy (Cummings and Schatz 2012); therefore, all adolescents were included and teens exposed to destructive marital conflict were not directly targeted.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Cummings and Schatz 2012 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisenone given

    The Cummings and Schatz psychoeducational intervention involves both parents and adolescents, focuses on improving family conflict resolution skills, and has been effective in improving family communication and increasing adolescent emotional insecurity.

    “This psychoeducational intervention, which involves both parents and adolescents and focuses on improving family conflict resolution skills, has been effective in improving family communication and increasing adolescent emotional insecurity.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Interventions that directly target adolescents would not require both parents to be interested and motivated and would require only limited parental involvement such as consent.

    “Such programs would not require that both parents be interested and motivated for change, and would only require limited parental involvement (i.e., parental consent) for an adolescent to receive such services.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    For adolescents exposed to interparental conflict, skills-building techniques involving further exposure may not be helpful and may be harmful.

    “In addition, given that adolescents’ interparental conflict is often out of their control, skills-building techniques involving further exposure may not be helpful, and may actually be harmful, for this population.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisenone given

    CBT is heavily cognitive, whereas mindfulness training simultaneously targets bottom-up and top-down regulatory functions.

    “approaches like CBT are heavily cognitive, whereas mindfulness training simultaneously targets bottom-up as well as top-down regulatory functions.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisereasoning

    Mindfulness interventions are designed specifically to improve attentional skills and self-regulation.

    “mindfulness interventions are designed specifically to improve attentional skills and self-regulation.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    For adolescents exposed to interparental conflict, troubling thoughts may not be irrational, so targeting them through psychoeducation or cognitive restructuring may not be helpful.

    “In the case of adolescents exposed to interparental conflict, unfortunately, the troubling thoughts that are so disturbing for these adolescents (e.g., “if my parents fight severely and intensely, they may divorce”) may not be irrational and therefore it may not be helpful to try to target such thoughts through psychoeducation or cognitive restructuring.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    There is evidence for reciprocal associations between interparental conflict and adolescent adjustment, with conflict increasing and being exacerbated by adolescent depressive symptoms and externalizing behaviors.

    “There is evidence for reciprocal associations between interparental conflict and adolescent adjustment, with conflict increasing as well as being exacerbated by adolescent depressive symptoms and externalizing behaviors (Cui et al. 2007).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Cui et al. 2007 source

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Such family interventions require the involvement of parents in addition to adolescents, which requires parental commitment to change.

    “and such family interventions require the involvement of parents in addition to adolescents, which requires parental commitment to change.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Controlling for parent-reported and observer-rated interparental conflict, conflict appraisals are predicted by parent-adolescent relationship quality and stressful life events, with more-negative appraisals by adolescents with lower quality relationships and more stressful life events.

    “controlling for parent-reported and observer-rated interparental conflict, conflict appraisals are predicted by parent-adolescent relationship quality and stressful life events, with more-negative appraisals reported by adolescents with lower quality relationships with parents and more stressful life events (Lucas-Thompson and George 2017).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Lucas-Thompson and George 2017 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Mindfulness approaches may be particularly appropriate for adolescents exposed to interparental conflict compared to CBT because adolescents have little agency over parents' conflict and their attributions may be true.

    “because adolescents have little agency over their parents’ level of conflict and their attributions of this conflict may be founded in truth, it may be that mindfulness approaches (which focus on acceptance rather than modification of thoughts) particularly appropriate for this population.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Siblings within the same family make similar appraisals of objective properties of parents' conflict but have statistically independent appraisals of self-blame and threat.

    “although siblings within the same family make similar appraisals of the objective properties of their parents’ conflict, siblings have statistically independent appraisals of self-blame and threat (Lucas-Thompson and George 2017).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Lucas-Thompson and George 2017 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    If mindfulness training reduces automaticity and negativity of adolescent conflict appraisals, decreases stress perceptions, improves coping self-efficacy, or improves parent-adolescent relationships, it can very likely improve adolescent outcomes even if it does not change interparental conflict.

    “if it is able to reduce the automaticity and negativity of adolescent conflict appraisals, decrease perceptions of stress more broadly, improve adolescent coping self-efficacy, or improve parent-adolescent relationships, it can very likely improve adolescent outcomes.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Mindfulness interventions can be delivered as part of school-based universal prevention, so individuals do not need to be at elevated risk to participate.

    “In addition, mindfulness interventions can be delivered as part of school-based universal prevention (Carsley et al. 2017), so that individuals do not need to be at elevated risk to participate.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Carsley et al. 2017 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

    Interpretationreasoning

    A promising alternative approach to intervening at the interparental level is building the regulatory capabilities of adolescents exposed to destructive interparental conflict.

    “A promising alternative approach to intervening at the interparental level is building the regulatory capabilities of adolescents exposed to destructive interparental conflict.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Building regulatory capabilities in adolescents exposed to destructive interparental conflict will improve their adjustment and regulation outcomes.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    In CBT, maladaptive automatic thoughts are targeted through psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, and skill-building.

    “These maladaptive automatics thoughts are targeted through such mechanisms as psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, and skill-building”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Coyne et al. 2008

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Mindfulness training can reduce the negative impact of automatic negative thoughts regarding adolescents' exposure to family conflict so that adolescents can more effectively cope with such stressors.

    “Mindfulness training can reduce the negative impact of automatic negative thoughts regarding adolescents’ exposure to family conflict so that adolescents can more effectively cope which such stressors.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisereasoning

    L2B was designed to meet developmental needs of adolescents by supporting autonomy and self-efficacy during stress, building emotion regulation skills, encouraging group cohesion, reducing self-judgment and social comparison, and encouraging peer acceptance and support.

    “L2B was designed specifically to meet the developmental needs of adolescents: it is designed to support autonomy and self-efficacy during stress, build emotion regulation skills, encourage group cohesion (through emphasis on the common experiences of adolescents), reduce self-judgment and social comparison, and encourage peer acceptance and support.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

    Interpretationreasoning

    L2B is likely to be helpful for adolescents from high-conflict homes because it targets emotion regulation, stress, and adjustment struggles that this population is more likely to struggle with.

    “L2B is likely to be helpful for adolescents from high-conflict homes because it targets the emotion regulation, stress, and adjustment struggles that this population is more likely to struggle with.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Adolescents from high-conflict homes are more likely to struggle with emotion regulation, stress, and adjustment.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Incorporating at least one parent into the intervention strategy may result in the most dramatic benefits for parents, adolescents, and the broad family system.

    “incorporating at least one parent (e.g., with an individual or mindful parenting intervention) if not both (with the addition of a mindful coparenting intervention) into the intervention strategy may result in the most dramatic benefits for parents, adolescents, and the broad family system.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationreasoning

    In the absence of parental commitment, targeting adolescents directly may reduce or prevent negative effects of interparental conflict.

    “in the absence of parental commitment to participation in a mindful parenting and/or coparenting intervention, targeting adolescents directly may in and of itself reduce or prevent the negative effects of interparental conflict.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisereasoning

    L2B focuses on focused attention, open awareness, and compassion practices.

    “L2B focuses on the same three families of practices, including focused attention (e.g., on the breath), open awareness (e.g., of sensations or thoughts/feelings as they happen), and compassion (e.g., towards self and others).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    By mid-adolescence, individuals are cognitively capable of adult-like decision-making but remain vulnerable to emotional and social influences on cognition.

    “By mid-adolescence, individuals are cognitively capable of engaging in adult-like decision-making, but are still quite vulnerable to emotional and social influences on cognition (Blakemore 2008; Steinberg 2005).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Blakemore 2008 source
    • cites Steinberg 2005 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    L2B targets the specific mechanisms by which destructive interparental conflict affects adolescents, so the program is appropriate for this population as-is and need not be adapted.

    “Given that L2B targets the specific mechanisms by which destructive interparental conflict affects adolescents, as reviewed, the program is appropriate for this population as-is and need not be adapted or changed to benefit youth from high conflict homes.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationcitation

    The largest benefits for youth might be evident if a mindfulness intervention targeted both adolescents and parents, consistent with evidence that combining adolescent and parent treatment can bolster effects compared to adolescent treatment alone.

    “the largest benefits for youth might be evident if a mindfulness intervention approach targeted both adolescents and parents, consistent with some evidence that combining adolescent and parent treatment can bolster effects as compared to just adolescent treatment alone (Spoth et al. 2002).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Spoth et al. 2002 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationreasoning

    L2B is an ideal intervention platform to explore with adolescents from high-conflict homes.

    “Because of its flexibility in implementation, developmental appropriateness, acceptability to adolescents, and building evidence base, L2B is an ideal intervention platform to explore with adolescents from high-conflict homes.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Frontal lobes are not fully matured until late adolescence, when adolescents become fully capable of self-regulation.

    “It isn’t until late adolescence when frontal lobes in the brain are fully matured that adolescents are fully capable and competent at self-regulation (Steinberg 2005).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Steinberg 2005 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Premisenone given

    To date, mindfulness interventions have not been used with adolescents at risk for adjustment problems from exposure to interparental conflict.

    “To date, however, mindfulness interventions have not been used with adolescents who are at risk for adjustment problems from exposure to interparental conflict.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Mindfulness interventions are an ideal strategy to target adolescents from high-conflict homes.

    “We have argued that mindfulness interventions are an ideal strategy to target adolescents from high-conflict homes.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Adolescence is a period when regulatory systems are in flux and sensitive to positive and negative environmental influences, making it a period of vulnerability and opportunity.

    “adolescence is a period during which regulatory systems are in flux, and as a result sensitive to both positive and negative environmental influences, making adolescence a period of both vulnerability and opportunity (Andersen 2003; Steinberg 2005).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Andersen 2003 source
    • cites Steinberg 2005 source
58 of 58

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Mindfulness is associated with positive outcomes in adults, including lower depression and anxiety and greater emotion regulation.

    “Mindfulness, or present-moment, nonjudgemental awareness, is associated with myriad positive outcomes in adults (e.g., lower levels of depression and anxiety, and greater emotion regulation).”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Building regulatory capabilities in adolescents exposed to destructive interparental conflict will improve their adjustment and regulation outcomes.

    “A promising alternative approach to intervening at the interparental level is building the regulatory capabilities of adolescents exposed to destructive interparental conflict. However, no studies have investigated the efficacy of such an approach.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Mindfulness interventions are acceptable to adolescents and developmentally appropriate for them.

    “To directly target adolescents exposed to destructive interparental conflict (in addition to or instead of family intervention), it is necessary to identify an approach that is accepted by adolescents, is developmentally appropriate, and that targets important mechanisms that explain the effects of interparental conflict. We propose that mindfulness interventions are just such an approach.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Adolescents exposed to destructive interparental conflict are more vulnerable to long-lasting negative developmental outcomes.

    “Adolescents exposed to destructive interparental conflict are a critical group to target, as that exposure renders them more vulnerable to a wide range of long-lasting, negative developmental outcomes.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Mindfulness interventions can be delivered directly to adolescents and require only individual commitment to change.

    “Mindfulness interventions can be delivered directly to adolescents, and require only individual commitment to change.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Adolescents from high-conflict homes are more likely to struggle with emotion regulation, stress, and adjustment.

    “L2B is likely to be helpful for adolescents from high-conflict homes because it targets the emotion regulation, stress, and adjustment struggles that this population is more likely to struggle with.”
6 of 6

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Conflicting claims about whether targeted interventions exist

    Minor

    One passage says interventions for children or adolescents in high-conflict homes without divorce or violence exist but are scarce. A later passage says there have been none.

1 of 1

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Kabat-Zinn, J. (1994). Wherever you go, there you are: mindfulness mediation in everyday life. New York, NY: Hyperion.

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Related

Authors
Lucas-Thompson, R. G., Seiter, N. S., Broderick, P. C., & Coatsworth, J. D.
Affiliations
  • Colorado State University (US)
  • Pennsylvania State University (US)
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Child and Family Studies
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2019-09-30
Volume
29
Issue
2
Pages
392-402
ISSN
  • 1062-1024 (ISSN-L)
  • 1573-2843
DOI
10.1007/s10826-019-01599-y
PMC
PMC8386821
OpenAlex
W2977882553
Semantic Scholar
85e2b0ad7a3cb229dbeee5d1f1ccd30397f45b4e
Cited by
16
References
98
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2019: 1
FWCI
0.88
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Child and Family Studies (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (K01AT009592)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
Keywords
mindfulness-based interventions, parental conflict, adolescents, high-conflict families, emotion regulation, self-compassion, marital communication, attentional control, internalizing and externalizing problems

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Claims read under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-09-28.

Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-09-28.

Cited sources are checked by gpt-6-sol.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

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