Perceived Parenting, Positive and Negative Perceptions of Parents, and Late Adolescent Emotional Adjustment

Many studies have established that warm, authoritative parenting is associated with positive adjustment in children and adolescents. Fewer studies, however, have examined the potential mechanisms driving this relationship. The current study explores the effects of late adolescents' positive and negative perceptions of their parents in the association between perceived parenting and late adolescent emotional adjustment (depression, anxiety, and self-esteem). The sample consisted of 151 males and 324 females ranging in age from 18- to 22-years. Data were analysed with structural equation modeling. Results of the study suggested that perceived parenting, positive and negative perceptions of parents, and emotional adjustment as reported by late adolescents all are correlated significantly. The effects of perceived parenting on late adolescents' emotional adjustment, however, were not statistically significant when analysed simultaneously with late adolescents' positive and negative perceptions of parents. Also, the relationship between late adolescents' positive and negative perceptions of parents and late adolescent emotional adjustment became non-significant when examining father relationships. Overall, the importance of considering parenting in the context of parent and adolescents' sex as well as other variables is emphasised.