Parents’ Promotion of Psychological Autonomy, Psychological Control, and Mexican–American Adolescents’ Adjustment

Mexican–American adolescents are at an elevated risk for adjustment difficulties. In an effort to identify parenting practices that can affect the adjustment of Mexican–American youth, the current study examined parents’ promotion of psychological autonomy and parents’ psychological control as perceived by Mexican–American early adolescents, and explored their associations with adolescents’ adjustment in the context of acculturation. In 5th grade, 134 (54.5% female) Mexican–American adolescents reported on their acculturation level and the parenting practices of their mothers and fathers. In 5th and 7th grade, adolescents also reported on their depressive symptoms, number of delinquent friends, and self-worth. Perceptions of promotion of psychological autonomy and of psychological control were positively correlated. However, perceptions of more promotion of psychological autonomy and of less psychological control predicted fewer depressive symptoms 2 years later. Perceptions of more promotion of psychological autonomy also predicted fewer delinquent friends two years later. Finally, perceptions of more promotion of psychological autonomy predicted higher self-worth only among less acculturated adolescents. The study underscores the roles that promotion of psychological autonomy and psychological control may play in Mexican–American children’s well-being during early adolescence

Working Through Attachment Relationships to Improve Quality of Life for People with an Intellectual Disability:Clinical discussion panel

Intellectual disability (ID) primarily affects social adaptive behavior, which in some cases may deteriorate into endangerment of self and others. People with ID are as a result overrepresented in residential settings for youth mental health care, prisons, and care homes. The regimen in many of these settings may involve the use of behavioral, pharmacological, and mechanical restraints, or seclusion. This panel brings together clinical researchers and practitioners to discuss how insights from attachment theory and research may be employed to reduce such practices, improve quality of life, and promote adaptive development. Key questions to be discussed by the panel and with the audience are: (a) how may attachment-based interventions make restraints and seclusion obsolete?; (b) how may family carers and professionals be supported in building high quality relationships with people with ID?; (c) what are clinical research priorities in this field and how should these be pursued