title: Adolescent-parent attachment as a mediator of relations between parenting and adolescent social behavior and wellbeing in China.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine links between parenting dimensions (authoritative parenting, psychological control, and parental authority) and adolescent wellbeing (self-esteem, autonomy, and peer attachments) as mediated by parent-teen attachment, among Chinese families. The sample included 298 Chinese adolescents, ages 15-18 years (M(age) = 16.36, SD = .68; 60% female). The mediation model was examined using path analyses (one model with parental authority as overprotection, and one with it as perceived behavioral control). To improve model fit a direct path was added from authoritative parenting to autonomy. Authoritative parenting was positively predictive of attachment, while psychological control and overprotection (but not behavioral control) were negative predictors. In turn, adolescent-parent attachment was positively related to the three outcomes. Lastly, the model paths did not differ by adolescent gender. These findings suggest that parenting behaviors may play a crucial role in adolescent social behaviors and wellbeing via adolescent-parent attachment.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , West Virginia Wesleyan College , Buckhannon , WV , USA.
authors.forename: Mengfei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Sam A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Hardy
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Niwako
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamawaki
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D032763:Behavior Control / Q000523:psychology; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012649:Self Concept; D012919:Social Behavior