A family systems investigation on couple emotional intimacy, parent–child relationships, and child social skills in middle childhood

Abstract This study investigated familial attachment‐based processes in middle childhood, using 788 families (50.6% boys; 84.4% White), assessed six times from 4.5 years old to Grade 6. An adapted Random Intercept Cross‐Lagged Panel Model revealed between‐family associations among couple emotional intimacy, relationships with both parents, and child social skills ( β = .18–.66). Within‐family increases in child assertion and self‐control prospectively predicted relationships with parents ( β s = .13), and parent–child relationships predicted various child social skills ( β s = .13–.17). Couple emotional intimacy predicted child cooperation, assertion, and responsibility ( β s = .12–.24) and father–child relationships in Grade 6 ( β s = .20–22) at the within‐family level. Findings underscore a systemic consideration of attachment‐based processes in the family.