Society for Research in Child Development, Date: 2017/04/06 - 2017/04/08, Location: Austin (TX), USA
Author:
Abstract:
Introduction. Researchers have traditionally relied on a tripartite model for parenting behaviour, consisting of the dimensions parental support, psychological control, and behavioural control (e.g., Barber et al., 2005; Caron et al., 2006). However, it has been suggested that two forms of behavioural control should be distinguished, namely reactive control for negative controlling behaviours, such as pressuring, dominating, and punishing, and proactive control for positive controlling behaviours, such as providing guidance and structure (Grolnick & Pomerantz, 2009; Janssens et al., 2015). The aim of the current study was to replicate this four factor structure of parenting. In addition, because most studies only examined one parenting dimension in relation to adolescent adjustment, the current study also aimed to examine the unique relation between the parenting dimensions and adolescent adjustment. More specifically, this study focuses on the unique relations of the various parenting dimensions with adolescents’ peer- and parent-related loneliness. Method. The sample consisted of 229 adolescents from Belgium (55.10% male, Mage=13.88, SD=.92). Various aspects of parenting behaviour was assessed with a series of nine questionnaires (see Janssens et al., 2015). Peer-related loneliness and parent-related loneliness were assessed with the Louvain Loneliness Scale for Children and Adolescents (Goossens, 2016). Three models were tested using Confirmatory Factor Analysis, (a) a three-factor model that distinguished parental support, psychological control, and behavioural control, with reactive control, punishment, and harsh punishment all loading on the latter dimension; (b) a four-factor model that distinguished the dimensions of parental support, psychological control, proactive control, and reactive control, with both punishment and harsh punishment loading on the latter dimension; and (c) a five-factor model that distinguished the dimensions of parental support, psychological control, proactive control, punishment, and harsh punishment. The parenting dimensions of the best fitting model than used in a regression analysis to examine their unique associations with loneliness. Results. In line with earlier work, the current study found empirical evidence for distinct behavioural control dimensions, as the four-factor model was the best fitting model (see Table 1). Parental support, psychological control and reactive control, but not proactive control, were significantly related to peer- and parent-related loneliness. However, when examined simultaneously, only parental support proved to have a unique association with peer-related loneliness, in which support was related to lower levels of loneliness. Parental support was also related to lower levels of parent-related loneliness. In addition, psychological control and reactive control were related to higher levels of parent-related loneliness, but not peer-related loneliness (see Table 2). Conclusion. By replicating the findings of Janssens et al. (2015), the current study provide further empirical evidence for the distinction between various dimensions of behavioural control, which proved to be differentially related to various adjustment measures. In addition, our finding stresses the importance of taking all parenting dimensions into account simultaneously, instead of examining them separately.