Parental impulsivity as a predictor of adolescent risk behavior: Moderating role of parent-adolescent relationship quality

• In Event: Poster Session 10
  In Poster Session: PS 10 Topic - Parenting & Parent-Child Relationships

Abstract

Social learning theory suggests that adolescents with risky parents are more likely to engage in risk behaviors themselves (Pratt et al., 2009), such as substance use (Banducci et al., 2015). Poor parental cognitive control (e.g., impulsivity) may be one important cross-cutting factor contributing to parental risk behavior and is highlighted in recent models of parenting as a meaningful predictor of poorer parenting and lower parent-child relationship quality (Crandall et al., 2015). However, few studies have assessed parental impulsivity broadly, as most research has focused more specifically on parent substance use as a predictor of adolescent risk behavior. The purpose of this study was to examine how parental impulsivity predicts adolescent risk behavior (e.g., substance use, rule-breaking, and aggression), and to assess if this relationship is moderated by the strength of parent-adolescent relationship. 172 adolescents (ages 11-14 years, 87 females) reported on parent-adolescent relationship quality using the IPPA Parent Attachment scale (Armsden & Greenberg, 1987), as well as their risk-taking behavior using the Child Behavior Checklist (Achenbach & Rescorla, 2001), and their parents reported on their own impulsivity using the UPPS Lack of Premeditation scale (Cyders et al., 2014). Linear regression analysis showed that greater parent impulsivity predicted greater adolescent risk behavior; however, this relationship was moderated by parent-adolescent relationship quality (b = -.58, SE = .24, p <.05). Specifically, simple slopes showed that parent impulsivity was associated with higher risk behavior, only when adolescents reported low levels of parent-adolescent relationship quality (b = 3.1, SE 1.66, p = .06). In contrast, when adolescents reported high levels of relationship quality, parental impulsivity was not associated with adolescent risk behavior (b = -4.01, SE 2.39, p = .09). These findings suggest that stronger parent-adolescent relationships serve as a buffer from the negative impacts of parental impulsivity. To take this research a step further in assessing parental impulsivity, we will also investigate parental decision-making using an experimental paradigm, the Balloon Analogue Risk Taking task to capture real-time risk-taking and impulsivity. Findings from this research could help us better understand parental risk factors and inform intervention practices for parents in cultivating positive relationships with their adolescent.

Authors

• Rosario Villa, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  Presenting Author

• Caitlin Turpyn, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  Non-Presenting Author

• Eva H Telzer, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  Non-Presenting Author