Psychology

Perceived threat, controlling parenting, and children's achievement orientations

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Maternal perceptions of threat in the environment were examined as concomitants of controlling (vs. autonomy supportive) parenting. Forty mothers and their third-grade children were videotaped while completing homework-like tasks together. Maternal controlling (vs. autonomy supportive) behavior was measured both attitudinally by questionnaire, and behaviorally by coding of the videotapes. Mothers reported on their perceptions of environmental threat (worry, instability, scarcity). Results indicated that perceptions of threat were positively associated with controlling behaviors exhibited during the tasks, and negatively associated with children's motivation. Further, the relation between perceived instability and children's motivation was mediated by controlling parenting. Controlling parenting is associated with parental perceptions of threat and is one pathway through which threat may be associated with children's achievement goals. © 2005 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.

Publication Title

Motivation and Emotion

Publication Date

2005

Volume

29

Issue

2

First Page

103

Last Page

121

ISSN

0146-7239

DOI

10.1007/s11031-005-7956-2

Keywords

achievement goals, controlling parenting, perceived threat

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