Individual and Sibling Characteristics: Parental Differential Treatment and Adolescent Externalizing Behaviors

Abstract

Adolescents' reports of parental differential treatment have been linked to increased externalizing behaviors. The current study investigated whether adolescent self-esteem and sibling relationship characteristics (age-spacing and sibling relationship quality) moderated associations between parental differential treatment and later externalizing behavior. Data was gathered at two assessments from 708 sibling pairs (94% White; 51% male; same-gender pairs <4 years apart in age). Older/younger siblings were aged M = 13.5/12.1 and M = 16.2/14.7 years. We found that higher levels of maternal differential treatment predicted greater residualized gains in externalizing behavior among older siblings who were (a) the same age as their sibling or near-to and had low self-esteem or (b) three years older than their sibling and had higher self-esteem. Higher levels of paternal differential treatment predicted greater residual gains in externalizing for older siblings with wider age ranges (regardless of self-esteem), and among older siblings with high levels of self-esteem (regardless of age difference). Surprisingly, maternal differential treatment was protective in one case: for adolescents with low self-esteem who were at least three years older than their siblings, maternal differential treatment predicted reduced externalizing behaviors. Paternal differential treatment was protective for more youth than maternal differential treatment: older siblings with low self-esteem who experienced paternal differential treatment exhibited decreased externalizing behaviors across adolescence, regardless of age difference. The findings highlight the importance of self-esteem and sibling age-spacing as particularly salient contextual influences in older siblings' perceptions of maternal and paternal differential treatment, and that maternal and especially paternal differential treatment does not always serve as a risk factor for externalizing problems.

Statistical analysis of childhood and early adolescent externalizing behaviors in a middle low income country

“…Children of depressed mothers [24] or adolescents that have experienced parental differential treatments [25], children and adults from persistent or concordant drinking parents [26], children that have low receptive language skills [27] and children and adults from polygamous family backgrounds [28] are at a high risk of exhibiting externalizing behavior. Adolescence deviant peer group affiliations [29], adolescents with tattooing and body piercing [30], those having history or profile of jailed parents [31] and those that had remained impervious to behavioral corrections are at a high risk.…”

Identity Distress, Parental Response, and Problem Behaviors in Juvenile Justice-Involved Boys

“…Much research has investigated the determinants of problem behaviors in adolescence, with a focus on parenting factors (e.g., Dimler et al, 2017; Hoeve et al, 2009; Pinquart, 2017; Rolan & Marceau, 2018). However, few studies situate these behaviors in the developmental context in which they occur, that is, adolescence—a stressful developmental period in which identity-related challenges and distress are prevalent (Barbot & Hunter, 2012; Cavanagh & Cauffman, 2017; Crocetti et al, 2013).…”

“…Prevailing models of juvenile delinquency have highlighted the interaction between multiple factors that contribute to the onset, development, and persistence of—or desistance from—problem behaviors in adolescence (e.g., Hein et al, 2017). These factors include adverse developmental experiences such as histories of maltreatment (e.g., Meldrum et al, 2020), poor social-decision making (Barbot et al, 2012), and maladaptive parenting practices (Hoeve et al, 2009; Rolan & Marceau, 2018). There are also more contingent factors such as adolescent day-to-day worries (Arbel et al, 2018).…”

“…Although generally studied separately, the family environment is a critical correlate of both adolescent identity distress and problem behavior in various youth populations (e.g., Hadiwijaya et al, 2017). In particular, research has focused on the role of parenting practices and their relationships to problem behaviors (Dimler et al, 2017; Hoeve et al, 2009; Pinquart, 2017; Rolan & Marceau, 2018). Generally, it is established that parental monitoring is most associated with reduced problem behaviors (Hinnant et al, 2015; Hoeve et al, 2009), whereas dimensions of parental support and warmth are more closely related to reduced internalized distress (e.g., Fletcher et al, 2004).…”

Analysis of Factors Affecting Parental Participation Towards Early Childhood Education Program

“…It is supported by Widiasih (2017) also emphasize that non-formal education service, such as Daycare should create good cooperation with parents at home in purpose of supporting children independence optimally such as toilet training. Related to this, Rolan and Marceau (2018) reports that parental differential treatment have been linked to increase externalizing behaviors in which paternal differential treatment was protective for more youth than maternal differential treatment: older siblings with low self-esteem who experienced paternal differential treatment exhibited decreased externalizing behaviors across adolescence, regardless of age difference. Moreover, Prendergast & MacPhee (2018) have foond some indication that parental scaffolding can promote children's persistence and later school readiness.…”