The Facilitating Effect of Need-Supportive Parenting on the Change Rate and Adaptation of Dual Autonomy Among Taiwanese Adolescents

Abstract

Abstract. Two empirical studies were conducted to test the facilitating effect of need-supportive parenting (NSP) on Taiwanese adolescents’ individuating autonomy (IA) and relating autonomy (RA) as well as to investigate the mediating effect of IA and RA on the relationship between NSP and adaptation. Study 1 adopted a cross-sectional design and found that (1) NSP was positively related to adolescents’ IA and RA capacity; and (2) the positive effects of NSP on intrapersonal adaptation (i.e., self-esteem and happiness) and interpersonal adaptation (i.e., empathy and reciprocal filial piety) were superiorly mediated by IA and RA, respectively. Study 2 used a longitudinal design and added negative criteria (i.e., anxiety and depression for intrapersonal maladaptation, and hostility and delinquent behavior for interpersonal maladaptation). Hierarchical linear modeling analyses indicated that (1) NSP not only positively contributed to Taiwanese adolescents’ IA and RA, but also facilitated the change rate of IA and RA; (2) the changes in IA and RA within individuals over time were related to the changes in intrapersonal and interpersonal criteria, respectively; and (3) IA primarily mediated the effects of NSP on both intrapersonal adaptation and maladaptation, while RA mediated the effects of NSP on both interpersonal adaptation and maladaptation. Limitations and future directions are discussed.

Relations Between Dual Filial Piety and Life Satisfaction: The Mediating Roles of Individuating Autonomy and Relating Autonomy

“…Individuating autonomy and relating autonomy can coexist within an individual and may co-promote individuals’ psychological adaptation and well-being. DAM further proposed the Domain Superiority Hypothesis, which states that individuating autonomy is more strongly associated with intrapersonal domain variables, while relating autonomy is more associated with interpersonal domain variables (Yeh and Yang, 2006; Yeh et al, 2009; Wu et al, 2015). FP represents a parent-child interaction pattern between parents and children (Bedford and Yeh, 2019), and thus belongs to interpersonal domain variable.…”

“…However, unlike SDT, DAM regards autonomy as an adaptive capacity that includes cognitive, functional, and emotional elements. It also differentiates two forms of autonomy: individuating autonomy and relating autonomy/inclusive autonomy (Gore and Cross, 2006; Yeh and Yang, 2006; Wu et al, 2015). Individuating autonomy is oriented toward acting volitionally by expressing individualistic attributes.…”

“…Compared with SDT, the DAM elaborates on the positive relationship between dual autonomy and life satisfaction. The DAM holds that the essence of autonomy is the adaptive capacity to control situations and attain goals (Yeh and Yang, 2006; Wu et al, 2015). The realization of this ability will provide psychological and social adjustment (Yeh and Yang, 2006), which will facilitate life satisfaction.…”

Parenting Style and Emotional Well-Being Among Adolescents: The Role of Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction and Frustration

“…A similar finding was reported in non-Western populations, such as Taiwanese populations. The study found the effect of need-supportive parenting on intrapersonal and interpersonal adaptation was mediated by need satisfaction ( Wu et al, 2015 ). These findings might be expected as the SDT suggests the notion applied universally.…”