On the links between parental support and life satisfaction: General and LGBQ+ specific self-concepts as mediators, and parent-oriented interdependent self-construal as a moderator

Abstract

Introduction Previous studies found that perceptions of parental support for sexual orientation was negatively associated with psychological distress, this study aimed to examine whether, how, and when perceived parental support for sexual orientation (PPSSO) contributed to mental well-being. Method A total of 477 (66.5% male; age: M = 26.61, SD = 5.95) Chinese lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer/questioning, and other non-heterosexual (LGBQ+) individuals participated in this study. They provided demographic information and completed measures of PPSSO, parent-oriented interdependent self-construal (POISC), self-esteem, internalized homonegativity, and life satisfaction. Structural equation modelling was conducted for data analyses. Results PPSSO was found to be positively associated with life satisfaction. The positive link between PPSSO and life satisfaction was fully mediated by self-esteem and internalized homonegativity. Furthermore, we identified POISC as a significant moderator. Specifically, high levels of POISC strengthened the negative association between PPSSO and internalized homonegativity. The indirect positive effect of PPSSO on life satisfaction through internalized homonegativity was stronger for participants who endorsed high levels of POISC. Conclusions Self-esteem and internalized homonegativity might be the underlying mechanisms for the positive link between PPSSO and life satisfaction. Parental support may contribute to Chinese sexual minorities’ self-stigma and, in turn, life satisfaction to a greater extent, especially for those who depend largely on their parents to define themselves.

Parental psychological control and emotional well-being among emerging adults: The moderating role of parent-oriented self-construals

“…As found in this study, the detrimental implication of parental psychological control, a type of parenting practice unconstructive to youth's development, was especially significant for youth's emotional well-being among those with higher levels of POISC. These findings, in conjunction with prior findings regarding the role of youth's POISC in augmenting the positive implications of constructive parenting for youth's wellbeing (Liu & Chong, 2023;, suggest that POISC may make youth particularly sensitive to either positive or negative parental influences (Cross et al, 2011;. Taken together, these findings imply that POISC may potentially function as a "double-edged sword" for youth development (i.e., amplifying both the harm of unconstructive parenting and the benefit of constructive parenting).…”

“…These findings align with prior research documenting the moderating role of youth's POISC in parental influences (e.g., autonomy support and parent-child relationship quality) on youth development during adolescence in the United States, Ghana, and China (Marbell-Pierre et al, 2019;. This research extends prior studies showing the amplifying effects of American and Chinese youth's POISC on the positive implications of constructive parenting (e.g., parental support for youth's sexual orientation and parent-adolescent relationships characterized with closeness; Liu & Chong, 2023; for youth development. The extension lies in the novel evidence for the amplifying effects of youth's POISC on the negative implications of unconstructive parenting practices in terms of psychological control for youth's emotional well-being, further underscoring "the active role of the child" in parental socialization (Soenens et al, 2015), especially during emerging adulthood when youth have rich opportunities to explore how the self is defined (Arnett, 2015).…”

“…Based on SDT (Soenens & Vansteenkiste, 2010) and prior findings among American and Chinese college students (Su et al, 2022), it was expected that parental psychological control would have similar negative associations with emerging adults' emotional well-being in both cultures. Furthermore, based on prior findings documenting the moderating role of POISC in parental influences on youth development (Liu & Chong, 2023;, it was expected that the implications of parental psychological control would be amplified by emerging adults' POISC in both cultures, such that the negative associations between parental psychological control and youth's emotional well-being would be stronger among youth with high (vs low) levels of POISC.…”

“…Indeed, prior studies among American, Chinese, and Ghanaian adolescents have shown the implications of parenting (i.e., autonomy support and parent-child relationship quality) for youth development being moderated by POISC (Marbell-Pierre et al, 2019;. To our best knowledge, there is only one study examining POISC during emerging adulthood, which was conducted among Chinese lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer/questioning, and other non-heterosexual (LGBQ+) emerging adults (Liu & Chong, 2023). Evidencing a moderating role of POISC, this study has found a stronger positive relation from constructive parenting practices (i.e., parental support for youth's sexual orientations) to youth's life satisfaction among youth with high (vs low) levels of POISC.…”