Predictors and outcomes associated with the growth curves of self-efficacy beliefs in regard to anger and sadness regulation during adolescence: a longitudinal cross-cultural study

Abstract

IntroductionThis longitudinal study examined unique and joint effects of parenting and negative emotionality in predicting the growth curves of adolescents’ self-efficacy beliefs about regulating two discrete negative emotions (anger and sadness) and the association of these growth curves with later maladjustment (i.e., internalizing and externalizing problems).MethodsParticipants were 285 children (T1: Mage = 10.57, SD = 0.68; 53.3% girls) and their parents (mothers N = 286; fathers N = 276) from Colombia and Italy. Parental warmth, harsh parenting, and internalizing and externalizing problems were measured in late childhood at T1, whereas early adolescents’ anger and sadness were measured at T2 (T2: Mage = 12.10, SD = 1.09). Adolescent self-efficacy beliefs about anger and sadness regulation were measured at five time-points from T2 to T6 (T6: Mage = 18.45, SD = 0.71), and internalizing and externalizing problems were measured again at T6.ResultsMulti-group latent growth curve models (with country as the grouping variable) demonstrated that in both countries there was on average a linear increase in self-efficacy about anger regulation and no change or variation in self-efficacy about sadness regulation. In both countries, for self-efficacy about anger regulation (a) T1 harsh parenting and T1 externalizing problems were negatively associated with the intercept, (b) T2 anger was negatively associated with the slope, and (c) the intercept and the slope were associated with lower T6 internalizing and externalizing problems, controlling for T1 problems. For self-efficacy about sadness regulation, (a) T1 internalizing problems were negatively associated with the intercept only in Italy, (b) T2 sadness was negatively associated with the intercept only in Colombia, and (c) the intercept negatively predicted T6 internalizing problems.DiscussionThis study advances knowledge of the normative development of self-efficacy beliefs about anger and sadness regulation during adolescence across two countries, highlighting the predictive value of pre-existing family and individual characteristics on this development and prediction by the development of self-efficacy beliefs on later adjustment.

Prosocial and externalizing behaviors in children raised by different-and same-gender parent families: new directions in parenting research

“…As stated above, a significant environment that can influence behavioral responses in childhood and early adolescence is the family context, which represents one of the most salient ones, especially at earlier stages of development (e.g., Lansford et al, 2021 ). Research on family functioning generally divided specific parenting practices into two main domains: positive and negative (e.g., Davis and Carlo, 2019 ; Di Giunta et al, 2023 ). Positive parenting practices, such as involvement and responsiveness, conceive all the behaviors each parent orients toward their offspring to manifest positive affection, commitment, and acceptance ( Carlo et al, 2011 ; Lansford et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Previous studies evidenced the importance of considering specific parenting practices as predictors of children’s social and behavioral adjustment rather than the macro-categories of parenting practices because considering specific strategies could account for the complexity of children’s behaviors, and they can differently influence the development of socio-emotional and moral capabilities in children (e.g., Carlo et al, 2011 ; Gruhn et al, 2016 ). In this sense, parental warmth refers to a positive parenting practice such as supporting children, caring for them, being responsive to children’s needs, and promoting open communication ( Rohner, 2005 ; Di Giunta et al, 2023 ). Regarding negative parenting practices, parental hostility indicates adverse and intrusive responses to children, and coercive parenting comprises the more general dimension of over-involvement in children’s lives ( Gruhn et al, 2016 ).…”

“…According to the literature on different-gender families (e.g., Lansford et al, 2018 ; Soenens and Vansteenkiste, 2020 ), parent–child interactions and specific parenting practices have a substantial impact on children and early adolescents’ adjustment because they influence socio-emotional functioning, as well as self-regulation and behavioral expression (e.g., Lansford et al, 2018 ). Considering specific parenting practices, parental warmth has been linked to adjustment in children because it can promote an adequate development of social and relational skills, promote self-regulation, and represent a protective factor from emotional and behavioral problems ( Gruhn et al, 2016 ; Di Giunta et al, 2023 ). Thus, negative parenting practices have been linked with various social, emotional, and behavioral impairments in childhood and adolescence ( Di Giunta et al, 2023 ).…”

“…Considering specific parenting practices, parental warmth has been linked to adjustment in children because it can promote an adequate development of social and relational skills, promote self-regulation, and represent a protective factor from emotional and behavioral problems ( Gruhn et al, 2016 ; Di Giunta et al, 2023 ). Thus, negative parenting practices have been linked with various social, emotional, and behavioral impairments in childhood and adolescence ( Di Giunta et al, 2023 ). Parental hostility makes children especially prone to academic problems, such as low school performance, and higher emotional problems, such as anxiety and depressive tendencies ( Lansford et al, 2021 ).…”

“…According to previous studies (e.g., Carlo et al, 2011 ; Gruhn et al, 2016 ), we expected that parental warmth would be positively associated with children’s prosocial behaviors and negatively associated with externalizing conduct in both different-gender and same-gender parent families or that these relations would be stronger in same-gender parent families ( Patterson, 2009 ; Fedewa et al, 2015 ). Following the same reasoning, we expected parental hostility and rejection to be positively associated with children’s externalizing problems and negatively related to prosocial behaviors ( Lansford et al, 2021 ; Di Giunta et al, 2023 ).…”