Adolescent personality, problem behaviour and the quality of the parent–adolescent relationship

Abstract

The relationship between adolescent personality and problem behaviour has been well established. However, relatively little attention has been given to the role of the social environment in the association between adolescent personality and problem behaviour. We tested the mediating and moderating role of the quality of the parent-adolescent relationship in the associations between adolescents' personality traits and problem behaviour. The sample consisted of 140 adolescents (11 to 18 years of age) and both their parents. Results supported a mediating role of the father/mother-adolescent relationship in the associations between Agreeableness, Emotional Stability, and Conscientiousness and externalizing problem behaviour. The father/mother-adolescent relationships did not mediate the associations between personality traits and internalizing problem behaviour. We also found support for a moderating role of the father/mother-adolescent relationships in the association between Emotional Stability and both externalizing and internalizing problem behaviours. Other moderated effects were specific for parent, personality trait and type of problem behaviour.

Personalidad, estilos parentales y Desviación Social en Adolescentes Españoles

“…On the other hand, youth with high conscientiousness scores who have authoritative parents are at low risk for deviance (Prinzie et al, 2010). Relevant to this last point, Manders et al (2006) concluded that the quality of parentchildren relations mediates the association between personality characteristics (agreeableness, emotional stability, and conscientiousness) and externalizing behaviors.…”

“…De Clercq, Van Leeuwen, De Fruyt, Van Hiel, and Mervielde (2008) found significant interactions between low agreeableness, emotional stability, and negative paternal control. Manders et al (2006) found that adolescents with low scores on emotional stability and conscientiousness and who had poor relations with their parents were at greater risk for externalized behaviors.…”

“…There are two potential competing models to testing the links among these constructs, namely one which considers personality a predisposition to maladjustment, as mediated by perceived parenting processes (Manders et al, 2006;Prinzie et al, 2010). Based on this model, we would expect that youth who score low on agreeableness and whose parents are authoritarian (low warmth or closeness, high discipline) are at greater risk for deviant behaviors.…”

“…From this perspective, parenting processes are considered an external factor which impacts the link between personality and externalizing behaviors (Manders et al, 2006) or vice versa, that is, the adolescent's personality affects the relation between parenting practices and deviance (Prinzie et al, 2003). Based on this viewpoint, both dysfunctional parenting practices and an adolescent's personality-specifically, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and extraversion-are directly related to youthful deviance.…”

“…Few studies have attempted to establish the links between the two (e.g., López-Romero, Romero, & Gómez-Fraguela, 2012;Manders, Scholte, Janssens, & De Bruyn, 2006;Prinzie et al, 2003;Prinzie, van der Sluis, de Haan, & Dekovic, 2010). In the current study, we analyzed the influence of both parenting variables and the Big Five personality constructs on deviant behaviors during adolescence and also tested potential interactions between them in their influence on these behaviors.…”