American Research Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

Children’s emotional development plays an important role in their ability to understand others, regulate emotions, establish relationships, and participate in social environments. The family setting is particularly influential because parents serve as important attachment figures and models for children’s cognitive, behavioral, and emotional responses. Although previous research has examined parental behavior in relation to children’s developmental outcomes, less attention has been given to the relationship between parental conflict occurring in children’s presence and their emotional development, particularly among children with autism and those with typical development. The present study examined this relationship using questionnaire responses from 43 parents of children with autistic and typical developmental profiles. The frequency of parental arguments occurring in front of children was considered in relation to indicators of children’s emotional development. Pearson correlation analysis identified a positive association between the reported frequency of parental arguments and children’s emotional development. This finding should be interpreted cautiously, as the correlational design does not establish a causal relationship between parental conflict and emotional outcomes. The findings highlight the importance of examining the wider family environment when considering children’s emotional experiences and social development. Greater parental awareness of children’s emotional needs, constructive communication, meaningful play, and opportunities for positive social interaction may contribute to a more supportive developmental environment. Further research involving larger and more diverse samples is needed to examine regional, cultural, developmental, and family-related differences in children’s emotional development.

Keywords: Autism, Children, Emotional Development, Emotional Regulation, Parental Behavior, Parental Conflict, Parenting Practices, Parent–Child Interaction, Social Development, Family Environment.