Longitudinal associations between mother, child, and family factors in childhood and hostile child-parent conflict in late adolescence

Conflict between mothers and their children is normal but for some it can escalate to become hostile during adolescence and disrupt healthy social development. This study aimed to understand the prevalence of hostile child-parent conflict in adolescence (16–17 years), and identify associations with mother, child, and family factors during childhood (4–5 years). Participants were 3,021 mothers and their children (49% female) involved in the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that interparental conflict, maternal hostility, consistency, as well as child reactivity, behavioural difficulties, and neurodevelopmental condition at age 4–5 years were positively associated with hostile child-parent conflict at age 16–17 years. These early childhood conditions may act as important initial inputs into the development of coercive child-parent cycles and conflict into late adolescence.