Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 13, 2026
07:56
Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure
Published on: September 19, 2019
Reciprocal relationships between parent and adolescent internalizing symptoms.
Elizabeth K Hughes1, Eleonora Gullone
1School of Psychology, Psychiatry, and Psychological Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia. Libby.Hughes@med.monash.edu.au
Summary
Maternal and adolescent internalizing symptoms, like depression and anxiety, showed a reciprocal link. Adolescent issues also impacted maternal parenting self-esteem, revealing a two-way street previously overlooked.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Parent-adolescent internalizing problems research often focuses on unidirectional parent-to-child effects.
- The reciprocal nature of these internalizing symptoms remains under-explored.
- Adolescent mental health significantly impacts family dynamics and parental well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the bidirectional associations between parent and adolescent internalizing symptoms.
- To examine the mediating role of maternal parenting self-esteem in the parent-adolescent symptom relationship.
- To address the gap in understanding how adolescent internalizing problems affect parental mental health.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study design with 177 adolescents (ages 14-18) and their parents (172 mothers, 124 fathers).
- Assessment of depressive and anxiety symptoms at two time points, 6 months apart.
- Statistical analysis to determine reciprocal relationships and mediation effects.
Main Results:
- Reciprocal relationships were found between maternal and adolescent internalizing symptoms.
- No significant reciprocity was observed between paternal and adolescent internalizing symptoms.
- Maternal parenting self-esteem partially mediated the effect of maternal symptoms on adolescent symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Adolescent internalizing problems can impact maternal well-being, highlighting a reciprocal influence.
- The findings underscore the importance of considering bidirectional effects in family mental health research.
- Interventions may benefit from addressing both adolescent and maternal mental health concurrently.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Influence of Parents and Peers on Identity
Adolescence is a pivotal period of identity formation, during which individuals begin to answer questions central to their sense of self, such as "Who am I?" and "Who do I hope to become?" Both parents and peers play critical roles in guiding adolescents through this complex developmental phase.
Parental Influence on Identity Development
Parents serve as primary guides and managers in an adolescent's life, offering support instrumental in decision-making and personal growth. This guiding role...
Parental Influence on Identity Development
Parents serve as primary guides and managers in an adolescent's life, offering support instrumental in decision-making and personal growth. This guiding role...
01:28Relationship with Parents: Attachment
Parent-child interactions lay the foundation for how we understand relationships throughout life. These interactions are not uniform across families; instead, they are shaped by a range of environmental, emotional, and behavioral factors unique to each caregiver-child dynamic. Social psychologists study these early relationships to understand how patterns formed in infancy influence social functioning and interpersonal behavior in adulthood.Attachment Theory and Early Relational ModelsJohn...
03:00Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
01:18Sources of Self-Esteem I: Family Experience
Self-esteem, a crucial component of psychological development, is significantly shaped by familial experiences. The early parent-child relationship serves as a foundational influence on a child's self-concept, with long-lasting effects extending into adolescence and adulthood.Parental Behaviors and Early Self-Esteem FormationEmpirical studies have identified four principal parental behaviors that foster healthy self-esteem in children. These include expressions of acceptance, affection, and...
03:34Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood
Attachment is a long-standing connection or bond with others. While Attachment Theory was conceived in developmental psychology to describe infant-caregiver bonding, it's been extended into adulthood to include romantic relationships.
01:18Cognitive Development During Adolescence
During adolescence, individuals experience significant cognitive development that enhances their understanding of others' emotions and thoughts, known as cognitive empathy. This period is marked by an increased ability to adapt to others' perspectives and a more nuanced understanding of others' mental states, a skill that is foundational for social problem-solving and conflict avoidance. The development of cognitive empathy relies heavily on the theory of mind — the recognition that people have...