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Adolescent-Parent Discrepancies in Perceptions of Parenting: Associations with Adolescent Externalizing Problem Behavior

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Abstract

Objectives

This study used a two-wave design to examine whether (dis)agreement between mothers and adolescents and between fathers and adolescents in reports of on parenting (i.e., support, proactive control, punishment, harsh punishment, and psychological control) was associated with adolescent Externalizing Problem Behavior (EPB; i.e., aggression and rule-breaking behavior) 1 year later.

Methods

Adolescents (N = 1,116, Mage = 13.79) reported on EPB and parenting across both parents, whereas mothers (N = 841) and fathers (N = 724) reported on EPB and their own parenting. As suggested by Laird and De Los Reyes (2013), we used moderated polynomial regressions to investigate informant discrepancy.

Results

Results indicated that agreement between mothers and adolescents concerning psychological control positively predicted EPB. Furthermore, there were linear and curvilinear associations between adolescent-reported parenting and EPB.

Conclusions

Our findings indicated that the inclusion of multiple informants, and more specifically, the agreement between two informants was important in predicting adolescent problem behavior. Furthermore, it provided support for including both mothers and fathers in future research or clinical programs. Finally, the link between some parenting practices and externalizing problem behavior may be more complex than suggested by previous studies. Concerning clinical implications, the present study provides support for tailoring prevention/intervention programs for the different members of the family.

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Acknowledgements

The research reported in this manuscript was supported by a Concerted Research Action grant (GOA/12/009) from the KU Leuven Research Fund.

Funding

This research was funded by a Concerted Research Action grant (GOA/12/009) from the KU Leuven Research Fund.

Author Contributions

M.V.H. and K.V.L. designed the current study. M.V.H. was responsible for data analysis and report writing. P.B., L.C., H.C., W.V.D.N., K.V. and K.V.L. provided feedback on the manuscript. L.G., H.C., W.V.D.N., K.V. and K.V.L. were involved in the conceptualization of the research project.

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  1. KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    Martijn Van Heel, Patricia Bijttebier, Hilde Colpin, Luc Goossens, Wim Van Den Noortgate, Karine Verschueren & Karla Van Leeuwen

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  1. Martijn Van Heel
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Correspondence to Martijn Van Heel.

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Permission for the study was obtained from the institutional review board of the KU Leuven (ML7972). Written parental consent was obtained for the present study. All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Van Heel, M., Bijttebier, P., Colpin, H. et al. Adolescent-Parent Discrepancies in Perceptions of Parenting: Associations with Adolescent Externalizing Problem Behavior. J Child Fam Stud 28, 3170–3182 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-019-01493-7

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