The parent–adolescent relationship has been a classic research topic, and researchers have found that parenting styles (e.g., authoritative, authoritarian) are closely related to various qualities of parent-adolescent relationships (e.g., cohesion, conflict). However, little empirical work has addressed how these variables correlate with each other in mainland China, nor has prior research addressed internal psychological mechanisms. The present study investigated the associations between parenting styles and parent–adolescent relationship factors, examined the mediating effects of adolescents’ expectations of behavioral autonomy and beliefs about parental authority, and explored whether adolescent gender moderated these effects. Results from a sample of 633 Chinese adolescents (7th grade: Mage = 13.50 ± 0.62 years, 9th grade: Mage = 15.45 ± 0.67 years, 11th grade: Mage = 17.30 ± 0.75 years) suggested similar levels of parent–adolescent conflict frequency for all parenting styles. However, for parent–adolescent conflict intensity, youth of neglectful and authoritarian parents reported higher levels compared to those with indulgent parents. The highest levels of cohesion with both parents were reported by adolescents with authoritative parents, followed by indulgent, authoritarian and neglect parenting styles. Cohesion with mothers for youth with authoritative or indulgent mothers was higher for girls than boys. Adolescents’ expectation for behavioral autonomy mediated the links between parenting style and conflict, whereas adolescents’ beliefs about the legitimacy of parental authority mediated the links between parenting style and cohesion; some of these mediating effects differed by gender. Findings highlight the importance of studying potential effects of adolescents’ values and attitudes within the family system in specific cultural contexts.

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This study examined possible changes in the functions of parenting practices across different historical time points in terms of the effects of parenting practices on adolescents’ academic adjustment and their indirect effects via family obligation values. This study used a time‐lagged design that recruited Chinese high school students in 2010 (N = 1,040) and 2018 (N = 1,302). Structured equation modeling revealed the total effects of acceptance/involvement and strictness/supervision on academic adjustment and their indirect effects through family obligation values were positive and statistically equivalent across cohorts. However, the indirect effect of psychological autonomy granting on academic adjustment through family obligation values was negative in 2010 (in rural) but was not statistically significant in 2018 (urban and rural). These findings indicate that along with the sociodemographic change toward Gesellschaft (e.g., more urbanized, wealthier, higher level of education), psychological autonomy granting tends to exert less negative influence on adolescents’ adjustment in the later cohort.

Background: Previous studies have suggested that family communication quality is an important factor that can influence adolescents' life satisfaction. However, relatively few studies have examined this relationship in the Chinese cultural context or explored the potential mechanisms underlying this relationship. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether family communication quality is closely linked to Chinese adolescents' life satisfaction and whether this link was mediated by autonomy and future orientation. Methods: This study recruited 442 Chinese college students (67.19% girls) as participants. Based on a longitudinal design, the participants reported family communication quality at Time 1 and reported autonomy, future orientation, and life satisfaction at Time 2. Results: The results of correlation analysis showed the existence of a positive correlation between family communication quality, autonomy, future orientation, and life satisfaction. The mediation models showed family communication quality predicted adolescents' life satisfaction through the mediating effects of autonomy and future orientation. Furthermore, autonomy and future orientation not only independently mediated the relationship between family communication quality and life satisfaction but sequentially mediated this relationship. Conclusion: Autonomy and future orientation mediated the relationship between family communication quality and life satisfaction. The findings of the present study highlight the significance of elevating family communication quality and promoting adolescents' development of autonomy and future orientation to enhance their life satisfaction.

Background Life satisfaction is a critical antecedent of adolescents’ positive development in many domains. To promote adolescents to feel more satisfied with their lives, it is important to identify the factors influencing life satisfaction and to further investigate the inner mechanisms. The purpose of this research was to examine whether parenting practices were closely associated with life satisfaction among Chinese adolescents and whether these associations were mediated by adolescents’ resilience. Methods In this one-year interval longitudinal study, 353 students (50.7% girls) in Grade 7 and Grade 10 were recruited as participants. At the first wave of assessment, they reported parenting practices and resilience; at the second wave of assessment, they rated the level of life satisfaction. Results The results of this study revealed that parental responsiveness, demandingness, and autonomy granting promoted adolescents’ life satisfaction. Additionally, parental responsiveness and demandingness positively predicted adolescents’ life satisfaction through the mediating effect of adolescents’ resilience; however, resilience did not significantly mediate the relation between autonomy granting and adolescents’ life satisfaction. Conclusion Adolescents’ resilience plays a mediating role in the relations between parental responsiveness and demandingness and adolescents’ life satisfaction. The present study highlights the significance of providing adolescents with positive parenting practices and promoting adolescents’ development of resilience to elevate their life satisfaction.