Understanding how disorganized parental conflict affects children’s mental health
Official title: A Process-Oriented Analysis of the Mechanisms and Conditions Underpinning Children's Vulnerability to Disorganized, Unpredictable Interparental Conflict
Funded at University of Rochester · NIH-11446358 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how chaotic, unpredictable parental conflicts influence kids’ mental health and what makes some children more vulnerable than others.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $588,905 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HD119011-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11446358 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are children aged 0-21 who are exposed to disorganized interparental conflict and their families.
✕Less likely to help
Children with no exposure to interparental conflict or in non-family settings may not benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
The project uses a developmental framework to explore why exposure to disorganized interparental conflict (IPC) can lead to externalizing and social difficulties in children. It will test a cascade model to identify mediators like children’s defensive responses, emotion-processing biases, and changes in reward learning in family contexts. By following children over time, the study aims to see which factors explain the link between IPC and later behavioral outcomes and who shows resilience. The findings could point to targets for future interventions to support families and protect children’s mental health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal key mechanisms and targets for interventions to reduce harm to children exposed to disorganized IPC.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research suggests developmental pathways from family conflict to child outcomes; this project aims to extend that work with a more integrated model.
Where this research is happening
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University of Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Davies, Patrick T — University of Rochester
- Study coordinator: Davies, Patrick T
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.