The Intergenerational Transmission of Parenting Behavior and the Moderating Effects of Romantic Relationships

• In Event: Poster Session 04
  In Poster Session: PS 04 Topic - Parenting & Parent-Child Relationships

Abstract

Introduction. The behaviors adolescents observe in their immediate family have been shown to influence their own behaviors in later relationships. Parents in particular provide a model for adolescents’ developing conceptions of romantic and parent-child relationships (Gray, 2001; Rothenberg et al., 2017). In fact, teens often pursue romantic relationships that resemble their parents’ and respond to conflict and intimacy according to those models (Aloia & Solomon, 2013; Picci et al., 2019). Generational effects have also been demonstrated in parenting behaviors, such that the nature and quality of one’s parenting frequently resembles the parenting one experienced growing up (Neppl et al., 2009; Fauchier & Margolin, 2004). Although extensive research has explored the effects of parenting on adolescent development, it remains unclear (a) the mechanisms through which parents positively influence their teens’ future parenting behaviors, and (b) the role of adolescent romantic relationships as potential moderators of the transmission of parenting behavior across generations. The current study aims to address these gaps by examining the effects of parents’ behavior and emotional expression on their teens’ romantic relationships and later parenting behaviors towards their own children.
Method. Data were obtained from a community sample of 184 ethnically and socioeconomically diverse participants (98 females; 58% Caucasian, 29% Black, 13% mixed race/other; median income = $40,000-59,000). At age 16, the target teens’ parents reported their expression of affection towards the teen as well as their respective partners’ behaviors to assess parent marital quality and dyadic expressed affection. At age 21, teens reported on intimacy, reliable alliance, conflict, and attachment in their current romantic relationships. Target teens’ responses to their own offspring’s negative emotions were assessed when their own children were 4-7 years old and included expressive encouragement and emotion-focused, problem-focused, and distress reactions. Regression analyses included gender and income as control variables when examining predictions of adolescent-era parent behaviors to early adulthood outcomes.
Results. A visual summary of results is presented in Figures 1 and 2. Greater maternal expressed affection at age 16 predicted less conflict in teens’ romantic relationships at age 21, as well as lower distress reactions and greater expressive encouragement, emotion-focused reactions, and problem-focused reactions to their own child’s emotional distress. Maternal report of their partner’s dyadic affection when teens were 16 predicted greater intimacy in teens’ romantic relationships at age 21 but was not associated with teens’ later parenting outcomes. Regression analyses revealed significant interactions between maternal reports of expressed affection and teens’ romantic variables predicting teens’ future parenting behaviors. Most notably, teens who reported higher degrees of intimacy or reliable alliance with their romantic partners exhibited greater problem-focused reactions to their child’s distress, even if the teen experienced less affection from their mother in adolescence. Lower maternal affection predicted lower problem-focused responses to one’s child’s negative emotions, but only when romantic partner intimacy or reliable reliance were also low. Findings suggest adolescents’ future parenting behaviors are not solely determined by the examples their parents set for them in adolescence, and that positive romantic relationships can compensate for less-than-ideal parenting models.

Authors

• Caroline K. Fowler, University of Virginia - Charlottesville
  Presenting Author

• Jessica A Stern, University of Virginia - Charlottesville
  Non-Presenting Author

• Aleni S. Zamalis, James Madison University
  Non-Presenting Author

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

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