The differential relations of maternal and paternal support and control to adolescent social competence, self-worth, and sympathy

Authors

Deborah J. Laible, Southern Methodist UniversityFollow
Gustavo Carlo, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

11-1-2004

Comments

Published in Journal of Adolescent Research, Vol. 19, No. 6, November 2004, pp. 759-782. Copyright © 2004 Sage Publications. Used by permission.

Abstract

The goal of this study was to examine how the parenting dimensions of both mothers and fathers independently and together predict adolescent outcomes in three domains: sympathy, self-worth, and social competence. One-hundred eight adolescents completed self report measures on their perceived relationship with parents, sympathy, social competence, and self-worth. Perceived maternal support and rigid control were the most consistent predictors of adolescent adjustment. High levels of perceived maternal support and low levels of maternal rigid control were related to adolescents’ reports of sympathy, social competence, and self-worth. In contrast, support and control from fathers was generally unrelated to adolescent adjustment. The one exception was in predicting sympathy, where father support interacted with maternal support in predicting sympathy. When perceived support from fathers was high, maternal support was unrelated to sympathy. In contrast, when perceived support from fathers was low, perceived maternal support was a statistically signifi cant predictor of sympathy.