Does parental warmth buffer the relationship between parent-to-child physical and verbal aggression and adolescent behavioural and emotional adjustment?

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether childhood levels of parental warmth buffer the relationship between parent-to-child physical and verbal aggression and behavioural and emotional adjustment (violent offending, substance use, depression and anxiety) among adolescent boys and girls. Data were drawn from a large self-report school survey conducted among 9th graders in Lower Saxony, Germany (n = 7423). Controlling for socio-demographic factors and risk-seeking, results showed that parent-to-child physical and verbal aggression were related to increased externalizing and internalizing behaviour, while parental warmth was related to decreased anxiety and depression. Perceived parental warmth during childhood buffered effects of parent-to-child verbal aggression on later violent offending. More specifically, the strongest relationship between parent-to-child verbal aggression and externalizing behaviour was found in individuals with low parental warmth. Child and parent gender did not qualify the moderating effect of warmth. Results underscore the need for programmes and policies that promote stable family environments particularly marked by the absence of parent-to-child physical and verbal aggression.