Behavioral but Not Psychological Control Predicts Self-Regulation, Adjustment Problems and Academic Self-Efficacy...

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Cross-Cultural Psychology
• Adolescent Adjustment

Background:

• Parental control strategies (psychological and behavioral) impact adolescent self-regulation and outcomes.
• Cultural context influences the effects of parental control on child development.
• Early adolescence is a critical period for developing self-regulatory skills and academic confidence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the predictive role of parental psychological and behavioral control on adolescent self-regulation.
• To examine how self-regulatory skills mediate the relationship between parental control and adolescent adjustment/academic self-efficacy.
• To explore these dynamics within the specific cultural context of Turkiye.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study utilizing survey data from 295 mother-adolescent dyads in Turkiye.
• Measures included parental psychological control, parental behavioral control, adolescent self-regulation, adjustment difficulties, and academic self-efficacy.
• Statistical analyses were employed to test mediation and prediction models.

Main Results:

• Parental behavioral control significantly predicted adolescent self-regulation.
• Adolescent self-regulation, in turn, predicted better psychological adjustment and academic self-efficacy.
• Parental psychological control did not show a direct predictive effect on self-regulation in this sample.

Conclusions:

• Parental behavioral control, encompassing knowledge and monitoring, is crucial for fostering adolescent self-regulation and subsequent adjustment in the Turkish context.
• Findings suggest a universal role for behavioral control, while psychological control's effects may be more culturally nuanced.
• Interventions aimed at improving adolescent outcomes in Turkiye should consider promoting effective parental monitoring strategies.