The Origins of Happiness

Chapter 13

adds little extra effect, once conflict is allowed for (see Table

13.3).

When it comes to academic performance, parental conflict

seems to cause much less of a problem, while separation is

more disturbing (see Table 13.4). This is consistent with the

findings of earlier studies.^5

When Conflict Is High, Is It Better to Separate?

So far we have examined separately the effects of conflict

and of separation (holding the other constant). But what if

separation were more beneficial the higher the level of con-

flict? We investigate this in Table 13.5.^6 In this case, conflict

Table 13.2. How family conflict affects children’s emotional well- being
(ALSPAC)

Effect on standardized well- being at

16 11 5

Parental conflict
(standardized)

−0.04 (.02) −0.04 (.02) −0.02 (.01)

Parental separation (1, 0) 0.01 (.04) −0.03 (.03) 0.04 (.03)

Table 13.3. How family conflict affects children’s behavior (ALSPAC)

Effect on standardized behavior at

16 11 5

Parental conflict
(standardized)

−0.14 (.02) −0.10 (.02) −0.04 (.01)

Parental separation (1, 0) 0.00 (.04) −0.02 (.04) −0.06 (.03)