Family cohesion and enmeshment moderate associations between maternal relationship instability and children's externalizing problems.

Abstract in brief

• This study found that family closeness, specifically cohesion and enmeshment, influences how maternal relationship instability affects young children's externalizing problems such as aggression or hyperactivity.
• Low family cohesion or high enmeshment intensifies the negative impact of maternal relationship instability on children's behavior problems, especially when instability is high.
• Interestingly, higher family cohesion can reduce externalizing problems in children during periods of high maternal relationship instability, while high enmeshment tends to increase these problems when instability is also high.