Psychology

Contextual, cognitive, and adolescent factors associated with parenting in adolescence

Document Type

Article

Abstract

In this study, we examined predictors of parenting during adolescence from three domains: the contextual (i.e., stress, support, marital satisfaction), social-cognitive (i.e., beliefs about adolescence), and child (difficulty). Fifty-three mothers and 38 fathers of 13-18 year olds were interviewed and rated on three dimensions of parenting - involvement, autonomy support, and structure. Parents completed questionnaires assessing predictor variables. Results indicated that, for mothers, higher numbers of recent stressful events were associated with less provision of structure and more control. For fathers, relations between views of adolescence and parenting were in evidence; while for both mothers and fathers strong relations between adolescent difficulty and parenting emerged. Relations between perceived difficulty of adolescent and parenting were more apparent in "conducive" than "nonconducive" contexts. The differential results for mothers and fathers are interpreted in terms of mothers' greater involvement and less role latitude than fathers. Parents' resources, experience, and expectations are considered in understanding why predictors might be associated with parenting variables.

Publication Title

Journal of Youth and Adolescence

Publication Date

1996

Volume

25

Issue

1

First Page

33

Last Page

54

ISSN

0047-2891

DOI

10.1007/BF01537379

Keywords

contextual & social cognitive aspects & child difficulty, autonomy support & involvement & structure dimensions of parenting, mothers vs fathers of 13–18 yr olds

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS