Observed and perceived parental overprotection in relation to psychosocial adjustment in preadolescents with a physical disability: The mediational role of behavioral autonomy.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to tes a mediational model of associations between parental overprotectiveness (OP), behavioral autonomy. and psychosocial adjustment in 68 families with 8- and 9-year-old preadolescents with spipa bifida and a demographically matched sample of 68 families with able-bodied children. Measures included questionnaire and observational assessments of parental OP; parent and child reports of behavioral autonomy; and parent, child, and teacher reports of preadolescent adjustment. On the basis of both questionnaire and observational measures of OP, mothers and fathers of children with spina bifida were significantly more overprotective than their counterparts in the able-bodied sample, although this group difference was partially mediated by children's cognitive ability. Across samples, mothers were more likely to be overprotective than fathers. Both questionnaire and observational measures of parental OP were associated with lower levels of preadolescent decision-making autonomy as well as with parents being less willing to grant autonomy to their offspring in the future. For the questionnaire measure of OP, and only for the spina bifida sample. the mediational model was supported such that parental OP was associated with less behavioral autonomy, which was, in turn, associated with more externalizing problems. Findings are discussed in relation to the literature on parenting, autonomy development, and pediatric psychology.

Self-worth, perceived competence, and behaviour problems in children with cerebral palsy

“…On the one hand, children with internalizing difficulties seem to ask for compensatory positive feedback to their negative thoughts and feelings about themselves. Parental overprotectiveness, which has been found to be elevated in parents of children with spina bifida [35] and which was found to be bivariately (but not multivariately) associated with self-worth in children with CP [10], would send the wrong message to children that they are not able on their own to stand up to demands and challenges. On the other hand, Baumeister et al warned that some people may have 'too much' selfworth, built upon incoherent and fragile ideas about the self [13].…”

Structural relations between sources of parental knowledge, feelings of being overly controlled and risk behaviors in early adolescence

“…It is therefore important to consider adolescents' developmental stages, depending on which adolescents could be more sensitive or accepting of the parental involvement (Eccles, Buchanan, Flanagan, Fuligni, Midgley, & Yee, 1991). Independent of culture or intellectual ability (Holmbeck, Johnson, Wills, McKernon, Rose, Erklin, & Kemper, 2002), early adolescence is a period of disequilibrium in the family context, where the child is on a merge toward an autonomous stage of life, often questioning parental rules and routines, pushing for more symmetrical relationship with their parents. If the parents do not renegotiate their restrictions and rules, the asynchrony between parents and their children becomes stronger.…”

Parent-child interactions during the initial weeks following brain injury in young children.

“…Directiveness and commands may in fact serve positive functions in this population (Floyd & Costigan, 1997), enabling parents to engage children in activities (Tannock, 1988) and manage problem behaviors noncoercively (Floyd & Phillipe, 1993 Saitzyk, 1992) and child behavior problems (Floyd et al, 2004), may serve as stronger determinants of parent-child interactions than the nature of the child's condition. Thus, it is important to understand the genesis and function of specific parenting behaviors in children with health conditions or disabilities.Existing research suggests that changes in parenting behaviors and parent-child interactions may be brought about by parental distress resulting from the child's condition (Quittner, Opipari, Regoli, & Jacobsen, 1992), by parental perceptions of the child (Holmbeck et al, 2002;Stern, Karraker, Sopko, & Norman, 2000), or as a result of the child's behavior, specifically, his or her need for structure and cognitive support (Keogh, Garnier, Bernheimer, & Gallimore, 2000;Landry et al, 1990). The literature on bonding and attachment suggests that maternal depression disrupts the natural reciprocity between parent and child (Tronick & Weinberg, 1997).…”

“…Existing research suggests that changes in parenting behaviors and parent-child interactions may be brought about by parental distress resulting from the child's condition (Quittner, Opipari, Regoli, & Jacobsen, 1992), by parental perceptions of the child (Holmbeck et al, 2002;Stern, Karraker, Sopko, & Norman, 2000), or as a result of the child's behavior, specifically, his or her need for structure and cognitive support (Keogh, Garnier, Bernheimer, & Gallimore, 2000;Landry et al, 1990). The literature on bonding and attachment suggests that maternal depression disrupts the natural reciprocity between parent and child (Tronick & Weinberg, 1997).…”