Parenting Practices and Adolescent Internalizing and Externalizing Problems: Moderating Effects of Socially Demanding Kin Relations

Abstract

Association of socially demanding kin relations, mother's emotional support, behavioral control/ monitoring, family organization and psychological control with adolescent's internalizing and externalizing problems were assessed in 200 economically disadvantaged, African American mothers and adolescents. Demanding kin relations and mother's psychological control were positively associated with adolescent's internalizing problems. Demanding kin relations also moderated the association of control/monitoring, family organization, and psychological control, with internalizing. For mothers with more demanding kin relations, increased control/monitoring was associated with increased adolescent internalizing. In comparison, increased control/monitoring was associated with decreased adolescent internalizing for mothers with less demanding kin relations. Negative association of family organization with internalizing was more apparent for mothers with more compared to less demanding kin relations. Positive association of mother's psychological control with internalizing was more apparent for mothers with more compared to less socially demanding kin relations. Demanding kin relations and mother's psychological control were positively associated with adolescent's externalizing problems. Mother's emotional support and family organization were negatively associated with externalizing. Also, negative association of family organization with externalizing was more apparent for families with more compared to less demanding kin relations. The need for research on the factors associated with negative relation with kin was discussed.

Perceived Parental Rearing Practices, Supportive School Environment, and Self-Reported Emotional and Behavioral Problems among Lithuanian Secondary School Students

“…However, studies that address the role of guilt induction to later outcomes are not numerous and most of them are exploring links between parental guilt induction and child internalizing problems in samples of depressed mothers (e.g., Donatelli et al, 2007;Rakow et al, 2009;McKee et al, 2008). In a non-clinical sample (Taylor et al, 2011), for mother's psychological control, results were consistent with past research suggesting that parent's use of control tactics including guilt or anxiety induction or love withdrawal are linked to poorer functioning in adolescents. Authors conclude that parent's use of psychological control may be linked to poorer adjustment including anxiety/withdrawal and conduct problems, because the control tactics involved suggest the rejection and disregard of adolescent's views and preferences (Taylor et al, 2011).…”

“…In a non-clinical sample (Taylor et al, 2011), for mother's psychological control, results were consistent with past research suggesting that parent's use of control tactics including guilt or anxiety induction or love withdrawal are linked to poorer functioning in adolescents. Authors conclude that parent's use of psychological control may be linked to poorer adjustment including anxiety/withdrawal and conduct problems, because the control tactics involved suggest the rejection and disregard of adolescent's views and preferences (Taylor et al, 2011). Rogers at al.…”

Relationships Among Emerging Adult Psychological Problems, Maltreatment, and Parental Psychopathology: Moderation by Parent–Child Relationship Quality

“…Moreover, the effects of parental attachment appear to be long lasting and have effects on parent and child mental health problems (e.g., substance use; Rogers, McKinney, & Asberg, 2018). Although many emerging adults are no longer living at home with parents, the current impact of parents may be similar to findings by Taylor, Lopez, Budescu, and McGill (2012) on the influence of demanding kin (i.e., extended family) on mothers' parenting and adolescent internalizing and externalizing problems. They reported that mothers with socially demanding kin engaged in dysfunctional parenting techniques resulting in higher rates of adolescent internalizing and externalizing problems.…”

Family-Level Factors and African American Children’s Behavioral Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review

“…Two out of three studies that examined the relationship between mother's psychological control and African American children's behavior also found a significant positive relationship between the two (Taylor et al 2012b;Taylor 2010). All three studies that examined the relationship between inconsistent discipline and African American child behavior outcomes revealed a significant positive relationship.…”