Link between Monitoring Behavior and Adolescent Adjustment: An Analysis of Direct and Indirect Effects.
The purpose of the current investigation was to explore whether monitoring behavior (i.e., parental solicitation, child disclosure, and parental involvement) was directly and indirectly (via parental knowledge and parent-youth openness) related to adolescent adjustment (i.e., antisocial behavior, substance use, and school grades). The sample consisted of 206 families with adolescents (ages 10-18 years) from predominantly low-income, high-risk neighborhoods. Monitoring behavior (parent reports), parental knowledge and parent-youth openness (youth reports), and adolescent adjustment (parent and youth reports) were all based on questionnaire data collected during a laboratory assessment. Results showed that when the monitoring behavior factors were examined simultaneously, only child disclosure was significantly and inversely related to youth antisocial behavior. In contrast, only parental involvement was significantly associated with less substance use. Moreover, school grades were significantly and incrementally predicted by both child disclosure and parental involvement. Parental solicitation was not significantly related to any of the adolescent outcomes. The findings also demonstrated evidence of indirect effects (via parental knowledge) in the link between monitoring behavior and adolescent adjustment. Implications regarding the socialization process during adolescence are discussed.
233 Human Sciences, Department of Human Development and Family Science, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, (405) 744-4325.
Michael M
MM
Criss
233 Human Sciences, Department of Human Development and Family Science, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078.
Tammy K
TK
Lee
Department of Human Development and Family Science, 700 North Greenwood Avenue, Oklahoma State University, Tulsa, OK 74106, (918) 594-6381.
Amanda Sheffield
AS
Morris
Department of Psychology, 100 St. George Street (4th Floor), Sidney Smith Hall, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G3.
Lixian
L
Cui
Department of Psychology, Sociology, & Criminal Justice, 1701 W. Will Rogers Blvd., Rogers State University, Claremore, OK 74017.
Cara D
CD
Bosler
Department of Human Development and Family Science, 700 North Greenwood Avenue, Oklahoma State University, Tulsa, OK 74106, (918) 594-8389.
Karina M
KM
Shreffler
Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Thomas Detre Hall, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, 412-383-8136.
Jennifer S
JS
Silk
academic achievement; adolescents; antisocial behavior; child disclosure; parental monitoring; parenting