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Examining temporal associations between perceived maternal psychological control and early adolescent internalizing
1Department of Kinesiology & Health Education, The University of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station D3700, Austin, TX 78712, USA. alexandra.loukas@mail.utexas.edu
Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
|June 30, 2009
Summary
Adolescents' internalizing problems, like depression and social anxiety, influence their mothers' perceived psychological control. Maternal psychological control, however, did not predict later internalizing problems in adolescents.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health
- Family Dynamics
Background:
- Maternal psychological control is a parenting behavior that can impact adolescent well-being.
- Research has explored the effects of parental control on adolescent internalizing problems.
- The bidirectional relationship between maternal control and adolescent internalizing symptoms requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the longitudinal associations between maternal psychological control and adolescent internalizing problems.
- To investigate the reciprocal effects between these variables across a one-year period.
- To determine if these associations differ between adolescent boys and girls.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study design with two waves of data collection.
- Participants included 479 adolescents aged 10–14 years.
- Multi-group, cross-lagged panel analyses were employed to assess bidirectional effects.
Main Results:
- Adolescent depressive symptoms and social anxiety predicted changes in perceived maternal psychological control one year later.
- Perceived maternal psychological control did not predict subsequent internalizing problems in adolescents.
- Depressive symptoms were linked to increased maternal control, while social anxiety was linked to decreased control, with findings consistent across genders.
Conclusions:
- Adolescent internalizing problems, particularly depressive symptoms and social anxiety, play a significant role in shaping perceptions of maternal psychological control.
- The direction of influence appears to be from adolescent internalizing problems to maternal control, not vice versa.
- These findings highlight the complex interplay between adolescent mental health and perceived parenting behaviors, irrespective of gender.
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