Parental Psychological Control in Adolescence as a Predictor of Young Adult Practical Dependency on Parents

• In Event: Poster Session 09
  In Poster Session: PS 09 Topic - Parenting & Parent-Child Relationships

Abstract

Parental psychological control is a widely-studied construct in adolescence, with numerous documented long-term links to negative outcomes in early adulthood (Rogers et al., 2003). Although parental psychological control is by definition aimed at creating psychological dependence in teens, research has yet to examine whether or not such control has long term effects on teens’ parental dependence in practical areas of their lives (Dykas et al., 2008; Leondari and Klosseoglou, 2002). This study thus aims to determine the effects of early and late-adolescent parental psychological control on markers of later adolescent practical dependency on their parents, and whether these effects differ by parental gender. Further, it was hypothesized that long-term links between psychological control and practical dependency would be mediated by the presence of internalizing and externalizing behaviors theorized to develop in the context of parental psychological control.

Data were obtained from a community sample of 184 adolescents (86 males, 98 females) at ages 13, 18 and 22. The sample was demographically diverse (63% European-American, 27% African-American, and 14% mixed race or other race/ethnicities; baseline median family income was within $40,000 - $59,000 range). Parental psychological control was assessed at ages 13 and 18 by the Autonomy and Relatedness Observational Coding System. Markers of parental dependence/teen independence were assessed at age 22 by the Parental Dependence Questionnaire and the Young Adult Adjustment Scale. Adolescent internalizing and externalizing behavior were assessed at age 22 by the Adult Self Report form.

Analyses were conducted using multiple regression, controlling for participant gender and household income. Results revealed distinct differences in future parental practical dependence that were contingent upon the gender of the parent demonstrating psychological control, and the age at which the teen experienced it. Fathers who were psychologically controlling at teen age 13 reported that their teen was more practically dependent (β = .25, p <.01), less self-sufficient (β = -.43, p <.01), and less functionally independent at age 22 (β = -.34, p <.05; see Figure 1). However, effects of paternal psychological control on later dependence were not present when fathers were psychologically controlling at teen age 18. In contrast, maternal psychological control at teen age 18 was a predictor of less practical dependence. Mothers who were psychologically controlling when their child was 18 years old reported that their child was less financially dependent (β = -.30, p <.05) and more functionally independent (β = .57, p <.01) at age 22. However, fathers reported their child to be more emotionally dependent on them at age 22 when the child’s mother was psychologically controlling at age 18 (β = .57, p <.01; see Figure 2). The study also investigated possible partial mediation of associations by internalizing/externalizing behaviors; however, the results revealed that these factors did not play a significant role in mediating the effects of parental psychological control on later dependence. Results suggest that both parent gender and developmental timing may help to explain the different ways in which parental psychological control can affect an individual’s parental dependence in young adulthood.

Authors

• Emily Navina Shah, James Madison University
  Presenting Author

• David E. Szwedo, James Madison University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Joseph P Allen, University of Virginia - Charlottesville
  Non-Presenting Author