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The association between parental psychological control and relational aggression: A three-level meta-analysis
Sen Li1, Ruonan You1, Jiajing Zhang1
1School of Education, Hebei University.
Summary
Parental psychological control is linked to relational aggression in youth. This meta-analysis confirms the association and identifies developmental stage and informant type as key moderators influencing this relationship.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Child Psychology
- Family Studies
Background:
- Parental psychological control, a parenting style involving manipulation and guilt, has been inconsistently linked to relational aggression in children and adolescents.
- Existing research presents mixed findings regarding the strength and consistency of this association across different developmental stages.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a three-level meta-analysis examining the relationship between parental psychological control and relational aggression.
- To explore how developmental period (preschool to college) and informant type moderate this association.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search across major academic databases (e.g., PsycInfo, Web of Science) up to April 2023.
- Inclusion of 57 studies with 20,719 participants and 448 effect sizes.
- Application of a three-level meta-analytic model to synthesize findings and test moderation.
Main Results:
- A significant positive association was found between parental psychological control and relational aggression.
- The strength of this relationship was significantly moderated by the developmental stage of the participants.
- Informant perspectives (child vs. parent reports) also significantly moderated the observed association.
Conclusions:
- Parental psychological control is consistently associated with increased relational aggression.
- Understanding developmental variations and informant differences is crucial for a nuanced view of this relationship.
- This meta-analysis provides clarity on the parental psychological control-relational aggression link and its moderators.
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