Within-Person Differences in Adolescent Information Management to Mothers and Fathers

• In Event: Poster Session 01
  In Poster Session: PS 01 Topic - Family Context & Processes

Abstract

Adolescents actively manage information regarding their activities from parents. Previous research found that adolescents’ use of disclosing strategies is associated with positive adolescent outcomes, whereas concealing strategies are linked with negative ones (Cumsille, Darling, & Martínez, 2010). Although adolescents employ different strategies with each parent—they disclose more to mothers and avoid more with fathers (Rote & Smetana, 2018)—past research does not generally examine adolescent information management with mothers and fathers jointly. To address this issue, the current study uses latent profile analysis (LPA) to examine profiles of information management strategies that middle-adolescents primarily reported using with each parent, and their links with adolescent-parent relationships and adjustment.
Participants were drawn from a one-year online study of 214 U.S. middle class families; adolescents were included if they reported on two parents. This resulted in a sample of 183 U.S. adolescents (Mage=15.95 years, SD = .85, 51% females, 82% Caucasian). Wave 1 information management strategies (tell all, tell only if asked, avoid, omitting details, lie) were obtained for each parent separately on 18 items. Adolescents self-reported their GPA, relationship quality with each parent (NRI; Furman & Buhrmester, 1985), problem behavior (PBS; Mason, Cauce, Gonzales, & Hiraga, 1996), and depressed mood (CES-D; Radloff, 1977) at both Wave 1 and Wave 2.
Using LPA on proportionate use of each strategy with mothers and fathers, we hypothesize that we will obtain three profiles: H1a) the largest consisting of adolescents primarily using disclosing strategies with mothers, and both disclosing and concealing strategies with fathers; H1b) another profile of adolescents primarily telling if asked with both parents, with the level of telling if asked higher for mothers than for fathers; and H1c) the third consisting of adolescents primarily concealing from both parents, with the level of concealment with mothers lower than with fathers. These hypotheses will be tested using Mplus, with missing data handled using FIML estimation. Multiple models will be run and compared using widely utilized statistical criteria (e.g., AIC, BIC, BLRT) to determine the appropriate number of profiles.
Links between profiles and adolescent outcomes will be examined both concurrently and over one year. We expect: H2a) more positive adjustment and relationships cross-sectionally, and better outcomes after one year for youth in the first profile; H2b) the worst outcomes at Wave 1 and the greatest increase in levels of negative outcomes one year later for youth in the third profile, compared to the other profiles; and H2c) gender differences in profile membership, with girls being more likely than boys to be in the first profile and boys being more likely than girls to be in the primarily concealing profile. Categorical correlates of profile membership will be assessed using the Mplus R3STEP command, while continuous predictors will be examined using the Mplus BCH method.
The current study aims to provide more insight and precision into adolescents’ perceptions of family relationships. As the data are already collected, it will be feasible to conduct these analyses before SRCD.

Authors

• Yuejiao Li, University of Rochester
  Presenting Author

• Judi Smetana, University of Rochester
  Non-Presenting Author