Parental rearing style as a predictor of attachment and psychosocial adjustment during young adulthood

Parental rearing-styles are crucial for psychosocial adjustment both during childhood and adulthood. The current study examined whether: (a) parental rearing-styles predicted psychosocial adjustment in young-adulthood, (b) this relationship was mediated by attachment styles , and ( c ) gender differences occur in these relationships. Two hundred and forty (103 male and 132 female) university students completed measures assessing parental rearing-style , current attachment style, romantic relationship satisfaction, friendship quality, self-esteem, and social competence. Multigroup structural equation modelling, conducted separately by gender, revealed that parental rearing-style predicted psychosocial adjustment during young-adulthood. Further, there was also evidence of gender differences and that self-models and other-models of attachment mediated this relationship. Together, these findings reinforce the importance of perceived parental rearing-style for subsequent psychosocial adjustment

An investigation of the relationships among the family of origin, need for achievement, and career development

The study was designed to examine, from a family system theory and a contextual approach, the impact of family environment on career thoughts, career indecision, and vocational identity. It further expanded career development research to include the need for achievement by examining the relationship between need for achievement and career-related variables. A sample of 211 undergraduate college students was administered the Family Environment Scale, Career Decision Scale, Career Thoughts Inventory, My Vocational Situation, and Personal Values Questionnaire. The results revealed a limited relationship between the family of origin and career development outcome measures. Specifically, independence and expressiveness in the family of origin environment were positively related to vocational identity. Independence was also negatively related to career indecision. Thus, some aspects of the family environment were shown to be important in career development. Career thoughts were shown to be important factors that influence an individual\u27s career decision-making process and overall vocational development. Dysfunctional career thoughts (commitment anxiety, decision-making confusion, and external conflict) mediated some relationships among family environment variables, career indecision, and vocational identity. Need for achievement was not found to be related to career indecision or vocational identity. Though additional research is suggested, the need for achievement was not shown to be a salient factor in career development. Overall, the results of the study suggested that there are different mechanisms interacting between individual (e.g., dysfunctional career thoughts) and contextual factors (e.g., family expressiveness) that influence career decision making and the development of vocational identity

Positive Parenting in Adolescence and Its Association with Future Hopes and Fears in Adulthood: A Longitudinal Analysis

During young adulthood (ages 20-39), individuals begin to develop a future orientation by thinking about their possible selves. In this longitudinal study, young adults’ future hopes and fears were examined in relation to their perceptions of the parenting style they experienced in adolescence. An interview was conducted with participants at age 26 and 32 to assess their future possible selves. Participants discussed both hoped-for and feared selves. The long-term impact of parenting on future hopes and fears was examined by exploring the possible impact of perceived parenting styles experienced in adolescence. Interviews were conducted in 2005 and 2011 with 26 year old participants (N = 100; 69% women) and 32 year old participants (N = 114; 71% women), respectively. At both ages, the top three hopes discussed by participants included work/career, marriage/relationship, and parenthood. At age 26, the top three fears discussed by participants included marriage/relationship, work/career, and mental health, however, at age 32, participants identified physical health and parenthood in addition to marriage/relationship fears. Perceived parenting style at adolescence did not generally have any association with hopes and fears at ages 26 and 32. However, participants who scored higher on the perceived parenting measure at age 17 discussed more parenthood hopes at age 32 compared to the participants who reported lower perceptions of the parenting styles they experienced. The results of the current study show how young adults are defining their future, with frequent consideration of work/career, marriage/relationships, and parenthood. These findings may inform the design of career interventions and therapy setting for young adults

SPFC Research Conference Guide 2008

Full 2008 conference guide with descriptions of each poster or paper presented by students in Seattle Pacific University\u27s School of Psychology, Family, and Community\u27s annual research conference

SPFC Research Conference Guide 2008

Full 2008 conference guide with descriptions of each poster or paper presented by students in Seattle Pacific University\u27s School of Psychology, Family, and Community\u27s annual research conference

School\u27s out: Adolescent \u27leisure time\u27 activities, influences and consequences

The current study investigated the out-of-school activities in which adolescents participate categorised in terms of structure, type (creative, physical, passive) and level of interaction (individual, group), the developmental, psychological and social consequences of such involvement, and the factors influencing participation. Questionnaires completed by 1280, 12 to 17 year old Western Australian metropolitan, high-school students provided information on adolescents\u27 out-of-school time use, their perceptions of parental values and behaviours, friends\u27 behaviours and relationships and their own behaviours and beliefs. A model, based on the research literature, indicated that parent support and intrinsic motivation were the two factors contributing most to adolescent participation in structured `leisure\u27 activities. There was some support for the hypothesis that involvement in structured `leisure\u27 activities would be associated with higher levels of self-worth and life satisfaction, less boredom and less frequent engagement in risk behaviours. However, it was found that parent strictness and connectedness (as perceived by the adolescents) were the largest contributors to these outcomes. The findings provided support for the `positive psychology movement\u27 and suggest that the majority of this group of adolescents are living effectively in the demanding and changing environment of today\u27s society

SPFC Research Conference Guide 2012

Full 2012 conference guide with descriptions of each poster or paper presented by students in Seattle Pacific University\u27s School of Psychology, Family, and Community\u27s annual research conference