Exposing the role of coparenting and parenting for adolescent personal identity processes

In line with a family systems perspective, this study examined the association between two aspects of family climate, that of coparenting^(cooperation, triangulation) and parenting (autonomy-support, dependency-oriented and achievement-oriented psychological control) and their relation to adolescent personal identity formation (commitment making, identification with commitment, exploration in breadth, exploration in depth, ruminative exploration, reconsideration of commitment). Using structural equation modeling, we tested the hypothesis that coparenting would be associated with adolescent identity formation via parenting. Cross-sectional self-report data were collected from 1,105 Swiss adolescents (aged 13-18 years; 51% female). Structural equation modeling revealed associations between coparental cooperation and more adaptive identity formation via parental autonomy support. Conversely, coparental triangulation was associated with maladaptive identity dimensions via parental dependency-oriented psychological control. These associations were not moderated by age, gender, or family structure

Further insight into adolescent personal identity statuses: Differences based on self-esteem, family climate, and family communication.

During adolescence, youngsters are faced with the challenging task of forming an identity. This process can be either supported or hindered by adolescents' family context. The present study used a six-process model of personal identity including the five identity processes described by the dual-cycle model of identity (exploration in breadth, commitment making, exploration in depth, identification with commitment, and ruminative exploration) as well as a sixth identity process of reconsideration of commitment, commonly described in the three-factor model of identity. In the current investigation, we sought to evaluate how adolescents in identity statuses derived from this six-process model differed based on psychological adjustment, perceived family climate, and family communication. A total of 1105 Swiss adolescents (Mage = 15.08; 51% female) completed self-report questionnaires at one time point. Using a person-centered approach, identity statuses were empirically derived and unique profiles for each identity status were identified. We identified six identity statuses: Achievement, Foreclosure, Ruminative Moratorium, Reconsidering Achievement, Troubled Diffusion, and Carefree Diffusion. Statuses with the highest degree of commitment showed the most optimal profiles of psychological adjustment and perceived family climate, whereas those with the lowest levels of commitment demonstrated the least optimal profiles. Adolescents in the Reconsidering Achievement status, however, reported high levels of both parental support and psychological control. The use of the six-process model of identity allowed for the derivation of six identity statuses and provided further insight into how adolescents in different identity statuses confront identity-related issues in the context of their family

Putting parental overprotection into a family systems context: Relations of overprotective parenting with perceived coparenting and adolescent anxiety

Previous research offers evidence for how overprotective parenting is related to psychosocial maladjustment among adolescents, and documents the parent-related and child-related antecedents of overprotective parenting. Using a family systems perspective, the present study aimed at extending this knowledge by looking into contextual determinants of overprotective parenting. More specifically, the goal of this study was to examine associations between adolescents’ perceptions of the coparental relationship (i.e., the way parental figures relate to each other in their role as parents) and overprotective parenting, which in turn was expected to relate to more adolescent anxiety symptoms. A sample of 174 Swiss adolescents (Mage = 16.99 years, 73% girls) completed questionnaires assessing their perceptions of the coparental relationship (in terms of cooperation, conflict, and triangulation), overprotective parenting, and symptoms of anxiety. Analyses indicated that triangulation, in particular, was uniquely related to higher levels of overprotective parenting, which in turn was associated with more anxiety symptoms among adolescents. These results provide evidence for the importance of considering the larger family systems context for understanding the dynamics involved in overprotective parenting. Theoretical and clinical implications of these findings are discussed

Parenting typologies in Georgian and Belgian adolescents: Associations with self-esteem.

The parenting context is of fundamental importance for the optimal development of children and adolescents. Making use of a person-centered approach, we derived parenting typologies from the perspective of Georgian and Belgian adolescents based on four dimensions of perceived parenting (responsiveness, structure, psychological control and autonomy support). Further, we examined how perceived parenting typologies were associated with adolescents’ self-esteem. The study sample included 511 Georgian and 830 Belgian adolescents (N = 1341; 48% female). A cluster-analytic procedure on the full sample was conducted separately for mothers and fathers. The analysis yielded five parenting typologies: Supportive - Highly structuring (high responsiveness and structure), Highly structuring - Moderately controlling (high structure and psychological control, moderate -¬ responsiveness), Supportive - Low structuring/controlling (high responsiveness and autonomy support, low structure and psychological control), Highly controlling (very high psychological control, low responsiveness and autonomy support) and Uninvolved (low on all dimensions). Results indicated that the Highly structuring - Moderately controlling paternal cluster was more prevalent in the Belgian sample. Further, adolescents from the maternal and paternal Supportive - Low structuring typology and paternal Supportive - Highly structuring typology reported the highest levels of self-esteem, whereas the lowest levels of self-esteem were observed in adolescents from the Highly controlling profile for both parents. Finally, a country moderating effect was found with the paternal Uninvolved profile associated with low levels of self-esteem in Belgian adolescents, but with moderate levels of self-esteem in Georgian adolescents. Overall, the findings offer evidence for both cultural-specific as well as universal perspectives on parenting

Developmental changes in secrecy during middle adolescence: Links with alcohol use and perceived controlling parenting

Adolescence is a developmental period characterized by fundamental transformations in parent-child communication. Although a normative shift in adolescents’ secrecy seems to occur in parallel to changes in their drinking behaviors and in their perceptions of the relationship with their parents, relatively little attention has been paid to their associations over time. The present longitudinal study examined the associations between developmental changes in adolescents’ secrecy, alcohol use, and perceptions of controlling parenting during middle adolescence, using a latent growth curve approach. At biannual intervals for two consecutive years, a sample of 473 Swiss adolescents (64.7% girls) beginning their last year of mandatory school (mean age at Time 1 = 14.96) completed self-report questionnaires about secrecy, alcohol use, and perceived controlling parenting. The results of univariate models showed mean level increases in secrecy and alcohol use, but stable levels in controlling parenting over time. The results of a parallel-process model indicated that higher initial levels of secrecy were associated with higher initial levels of alcohol use and perceived controlling parenting, while an increase in secrecy was associated with an increase in alcohol use and an increase in perceived controlling parenting over time. In addition, adolescents who reported the lowest initial levels of perceived controlling parenting showed a greater increase in secrecy over time and those with high initial levels of secrecy reported a relative decrease in perceived controlling parenting. Finally, adolescents with the lowest initial levels of alcohol use experienced a greater increase in secrecy. Overall, these results indicate that the development of adolescents’ secrecy is associated with the development of their drinking habits and perceptions of family relationships in dynamic ways

The French version of the coparenting inventory for parents and adolescents (CI-PA): psychometric properties and a cluster analytic approach

Coparenting refers to the way in which adults work together in their role as parents to meet the needs of their children. Over the past decades, there has been a considerable growth of empirical research on coparenting, including the development of self-report questionnaires. However, most available measures relied exclusively on parental self-reports and were designed for use with families with toddlers or preschoolers. The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the French version of the Coparenting Inventory for Parents and Adolescents (CI-PA) and to identify coparenting profiles in a sample of 312 families with adolescents. The three-factor structure was generally replicated by CFA. Cronbach's alphas and item-total correlations revealed that the CI-PA and its subscales (cooperation, conflict and triangulation) have reasonable to good internal consistency. Convergent and discriminant construct validity of the CI-PA was confirmed, using a confirmatory factor analysis approach to multitrait (i.e., coparenting dimensions) multimethod (i.e., different informants) design. Additionally, the associations between coparenting dimensions, parenting (i.e., responsiveness, autonomy-support, psychological control), and adolescents’ psychosocial adjustment (i.e., self-esteem and risk-taking) supported concurrent validity. Finally, cluster analysis identified three different profiles of coparenting in families with adolescents. Limitations and implications for future research are discussed

Trajectories of perceived parenting across an educational transition: Associations with psychosocial adjustment and identity development among Swiss adolescents

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Conduites à risque à l'adolescence : manifestations typiques du développement identitaire ?

Au cours des dernières décennies, on a assisté à une « pathologisation » de plus en plus importante des conduites à risque à l'adolescence rarement considérées comme de simples comportements de transgression constitutifs de cette période. Pourtant plusieurs auteurs ont souligné l'importance des conduites d'exploration dans la résolution des processus identitaires, d'individuation et de socialisation au cours de cette période développementale. Cet article a pour objectif de proposer une réflexion critique sur les conduites à risque à l'adolescence et examine en quoi l'approche théorique d'Erikson et les travaux néo-eriksonniens sur la construction identitaire offrent des pistes intéressantes par rapport à la compréhension du rôle de la prise de risque au cours de cette période développementale. During the last decades, there has been an important increase in the « pathologization » of adolescent risk-taking behaviors, with such behaviors rarely being considered as normative trangressions typical of this period. However, numerous scholars have stressed the important role of exploratory behaviors in the resolution of the process of identity construction, individuation, and socialisation during this developmental period. This article aims to provide a critical reflection on the concept of risk-taking behaviors in adolescence and to examine in which ways Eriksonian and neo-Eriksonian models of identity formation offer potential interpretations as to understand the role of risk-taking during this developmental period