Citation

Miller KF, Borelli JL, Margolin G. Fam. Process 2018; 57(3): 679-693.

Affiliation

University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Family Process Institute, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/famp.12330

PMID

29057468

Abstract

Parental overcontrol (OC), behavior that intrusively or dominantly restricts child autonomy, has been identified as a transdiagnostic risk factor for youth. However, it is as yet unknown whether the association between parental OC and child maladjustment remains even when OC is exerted infrequently or by attuned parents. Rather, the selective use of OC might steer children away from danger. Taking a developmental psychopathology approach, this study focuses on the larger parent-child relationship context, testing whether either the dose at which parents demonstrate OC or the degree to which children perceive their parents as attuned determines whether OC is risky or protective for adolescents' adjustment. Among a community sample of 114 families of children followed from the ages of 12-18, we examine whether OC, behaviorally coded from triadic mother-father-child discussions in middle childhood, is associated with later risky behavior and anxiety symptoms in adolescence. Overcontrol exerted by either mothers or fathers had a curvilinear effect on adolescent risky behaviors, and this effect was moderated by children's perceived attunement. Although OC generally was associated with increased risky behaviors, low doses of OC or OC exerted by highly attuned parents protected against engagement in risky behaviors. No main effect of OC was observed on adolescent anxiety; however, mothers' OC interacted with perceived parental attunement, such that OC exerted by less attuned parents predicted greater anxiety.

RESULTS underscore that the effect of parenting behaviors depends on the larger parent-child relationship context.

© 2017 Family Process Institute.

Language: en

Keywords

Adolescence; Anxiety; Overcontrol; Parent-Child Relationships; Risky Behavior; adolescencia; ansiedad; comportamiento riesgoso; control excesivo; relaciones entre padres e hijos; 家长-儿童关系; 焦虑; 过度控制; 青少年; 风险行为