title: Development of emotional autonomy from adolescence to young adulthood in Spain.
abstract: The main objective of this study was to learn whether emotional autonomy is truly part of a developmental stage for Spanish adolescents and young adults or if it is an indicator of difficult family relationships. Using a longitudinal design, a sample of ninety young people was followed for ten years, from their initial adolescence until their first years of adulthood. At four observation points, the participants completed various questionnaires to evaluate their emotional autonomy, the cohesion in their family relationships and their life satisfaction. There were no gender differences in the development of emotional autonomy. Family cohesion and life satisfaction showed significant negative associations with emotional autonomy and these associations became more pronounced as participants moved from adolescence into adulthood. Based on our results, emotional autonomy from parents does not seem to be a developmental stage taking place during adolescence, but rather, an indicator of difficult family relationships.
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Psychology, University of Seville, C/ Camilo José Cela, s/n, 41018 Seville, Spain. Electronic address: aparra@us.es.
authors.forename: Agueda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parra
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Psychology, University of Seville, C/ Camilo José Cela, s/n, 41018 Seville, Spain. Electronic address: oliva@us.es.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oliva
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Psychology, University of Seville, C/ Camilo José Cela, s/n, 41018 Seville, Spain. Electronic address: queija@us.es.
authors.forename: Inmaculada
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Queija
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D004644:Emotions; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adolescence; Emotional autonomy; Family relationships; Longitudinal study; Young adulthood