Emotional separation,parental trust,and psychosocial adjustment in preadolescence and early adolescence

IntroductionEmotional separation and parental trust are two fundamental components of parent-adolescent relationships across different cultural contexts. Previous research showed that emotional separation hindered adolescents’ psychosocial adjustment, while parental trust benefited it. However, research on preadolescence is lacking. Preadolescence is a crucial period, as theories and findings suggest that too early autonomy around puberty had negative consequences for psychosocial adjustment. This study focused on preadolescence and early adolescence and tested two hypotheses: that emotional separation would be negatively, and parental trust would be positively, associated with psychosocial adjustment, and that this pattern of associations would be more salient in preadolescence than in early adolescence.MethodsParticipants were 856 preadolescent elementary schoolers (49.6% girls; age range 9–12 years, M_age = 10.79, SD = 0.92) and 518 early adolescent junior high schoolers (47.7% girls, age range 12–15 years; M_age = 13.56, SD = 0.98) in Japan, who completed measures of emotional separation, parental trust, and psychosocial adjustment (industry, school adaptation, and daily life behaviors).ResultsEmotional separation was negatively associated with reviewing learning contents and doing homework. Parental trust was positively associated with industry, school adaptation, waking up at regular times, and observing rules at school. These relationships did not differ between age groups.ConclusionsThis study highlights that emotional separation has a negative relationship, and parental trust has a positive relationship, with psychosocial adjustment throughout preadolescence and adolescence.     

Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measurement invariance across adolescence and diverse ethnic groups

IntroductionEthnic identity is an important protective factor for various ethnic groups and developmental periods. Although existing measures assessing ethnic identity are well known, less is known about the measurement invariance of the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM) across adolescent ethnic groups. The present study evaluates the factor structure of MEIM (Roberts et al., 1999) and tests the measurement invariance across early and middle adolescence and ethnic background (N = 4940).MethodsData from an ethnic minority sample of youth (54% girls; M_age = 13.88, grades 6th – 12th; 60% African American, 22% multi-ethnic, 8% Latinx, 5% Asian, 5% American Indian) in the United States of America were examined using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and multi-group measurement invariance via a structural equation modeling (SEM) framework. Models for invariance were tested using full information maximum likelihood-robust (FIML-R) estimation in Mplus.ResultsCFA supported a three-factor solution (i.e., cognitive clarity, behavioral engagement, and affective pride). The model indicated scalar invariance across early and middle adolescence and partial scalar invariance across the five self-identified racial/ethnic minority groups. There were no grade differences on the ethnic identity factors. Among the racial/ethnic groups, multi-ethnic youth reported the lowest levels on all three ethnic identity factors compared to the other groups.ConclusionsResults of this study point to the validity of using the MEIM for meaningful comparisons of ethnic identity across ethnic groups and across early and middle adolescence. Implications for the interpretation and use of this measure with diverse adolescents are discussed.     

Brief report: Agreement between parent and adolescent autonomy expectations and its relationship to adolescent adjustment

While disagreement in autonomy expectations between parents and their adolescent children is normative, it may also compromise adolescent adjustment. This study examines the association between parents' and adolescents' agreement on autonomy expectations by cognitive social domains and adolescent adjustment. A sample of 211 Chilean dyads of adolescents (57% female, M_age = 15.29 years) and one of their parents (82% mothers, M_age = 44.36 years) reported their expectations for the age at which adolescents should decide on their own regarding different issues in their life. Indexes of parent–adolescent agreement on autonomy expectations were estimated for issues of personal and prudential domains. Greater agreement in the prudential than in the personal domain was observed. For boys and girls, higher agreement in adolescent–parent autonomy expectations in the personal domain was associated with lower substance use. A negative association between level of agreement in adolescent–parent autonomy expectations in the prudential domain and externalizing behaviors and substance use was found.     

School and peer influences on the academic outcomes of African American adolescents

Little scholarship explores how adolescents' beliefs about school and peers influence the academic outcomes of African American boys and girls. The sample included 612 African American boys (N = 307, M_age = 16.84) and girls (N = 305, M_age = 16.79). Latent class analysis (LCA) revealed unique patterns for African American boys and girls. Findings indicate that for African American boys, school attachment was protective, despite having peers who endorsed negative achievement values. Furthermore, socio-economic (SES) status was associated with higher grade point averages (GPA) for African American girls. Overall, these findings underscore the unique role of school, peer, and gendered experiences in lives of African American adolescents.     

A longitudinal investigation of sleep and technology use in early adolescence: does parental control of technology use protect adolescent sleep?

ObjectiveA bi-directional relationship between technology use and adolescent sleep is likely, yet findings are mixed, and it is not known whether parental control of technology use can protect sleep. The current study examined bi-directionality between technology use on school nights and morning/eveningness, sleep duration and daytime sleepiness in early adolescents. We also examined whether time spent using technology mediated the relationship between parental control of technology and adolescent sleep.MethodsAdolescents and their primary caregiver (96% mothers) completed questionnaire measures of sleep, technology use and parental control across three, annual waves: Wave 1 (N = 528, M_age = 11.18, SD = 0.56, range = 10–12, 51% male), Wave 2 (N = 502, M_age = 12.19, SD = 0.53, 52% male) and Wave 3 (N = 478, M_age = 13.19, SD = 0.53, 52% male).ResultsWhen examining the direct relationship between sleep and technology use, cross-lagged panel models showed that time spent using technology predicted shorter sleep duration and greater daytime sleepiness in adolescence, and evening diurnal preference and shorter sleep duration contributed to increased technology use over time. The relationship between technology use and sleep duration was bi-directional. Time spent using technology and adolescent sleep predicted, yet were not predicted by, parental control of technology use.ConclusionsWhile normative changes in sleep (eg, increased eveningness) may promote increased technology use, technology use may further impinge upon sleep. Results suggest it may be pertinent to instead find creative ways in which adolescents themselves can mitigate their risk of inadequate sleep.     

Toward understanding the role of body dissatisfaction in the gender differences in depressive symptoms and disordered eating: A longitudinal study during adolescence

This study was aimed at examining whether body dissatisfaction in early adolescence contributes to the development of gender differences in depressive symptoms and disordered eating across early to mid-adolescence, testing both a mediation hypothesis (higher levels of body dissatisfaction in girls, provided body dissatisfaction is a predictor of psychopathology beyond the effect of gender) and a moderation hypothesis (more detrimental effect of body dissatisfaction in girls). A community-based sample initially comprising 882 (49.55% female) adolescents (M_age = 12.85) was followed-up after 2 and 4 years. Multilevel models were used to analyze the data. Results supported the mediation hypothesis for depressive symptoms and disordered eating, and the moderation hypothesis for disordered eating. Whereas gender differences in depressive symptoms may be simply linked to dissimilar levels of body dissatisfaction in girls and boys, gender differences in disordered eating may arise from both dissimilar levels and effects of body dissatisfaction for each gender.     

Parental problem drinking and adolescent externalizing behaviors: The mediating role of family functioning

This study explored relationships among parental problem drinking, family functioning, and adolescent externalizing behaviors. The unique effects of maternal and paternal drinking were examined separately for girls and boys. The sample included 14–19 year old U.S. adolescents (M_age = 16.15; SD = .75; 52.5% female) and their parents. Participants completed surveys in the spring of 2007 and 2008. Structural equation modeling was used to conduct path analysis models. Results showed the distinctive and adverse effects of parental problem drinking on adolescent alcohol use, drug use, rule breaking, and aggressive behavior over time. Findings also highlighted the indirect and mediating roles of family functioning. For both girls and boys, family cohesion mediated the relationship between parental problem drinking and adolescent externalizing behaviors. For girls, adolescent–father communication predicted increased externalizing behaviors over time. These findings draw attention to the importance of exploring adolescent and parent gender when examining parental problem drinking, family functioning, and externalizing behaviors.     

Loneliness and Facebook motives in adolescence: A longitudinal inquiry into directionality of effect

The increasing popularity of Facebook among adolescents has stimulated research to investigate the relationship between Facebook use and loneliness, which is particularly prevalent in adolescence. The aim of the present study was to improve our understanding of the relationship between Facebook use and loneliness. Specifically, we examined how Facebook motives and two relationship-specific forms of adolescent loneliness are associated longitudinally. Cross-lagged analysis based on data from 256 adolescents (64% girls, M_age = 15.88 years) revealed that peer-related loneliness was related over time to using Facebook for social skills compensation, reducing feelings of loneliness, and having interpersonal contact. Facebook use for making new friends reduced peer-related loneliness over time, whereas Facebook use for social skills compensation increased peer-related loneliness over time. Hence, depending on adolescents' Facebook motives, either the displacement or the stimulation hypothesis is supported. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.     

Brief report: A preliminary comparison of self-compassion between adolescents with nonsuicidal self-injury thoughts and actions

Despite the public health significance of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) among adolescents, little is known about the possible overlaps or differences between individuals with NSSI thoughts and those with NSSI actions. The present study compared between individuals with different NSSI status on self-compassion. With a sample of 606 Chinese adolescents (38.8% females; M_age = 13.58, SD = 1.04), we investigated differences on the six subscales of the Self-Compassion Scale (i.e., self-kindness/self-judgment, common humanity/isolation, and mindfulness/over-identification) across three groups: NSSI-action group (n = 86), NSSI-thought group (n = 98), and no-NSSI group (n = 422). Results revealed that individuals with NSSI thoughts and NSSI actions shared greater self-judgment, isolation, and over-identification than those without NSSI, but differed from each other on self-kindness and common humanity, with individuals with NSSI thoughts reporting more self-kindness and common humanity than those with NSSI actions. Further empirical investigations into the influence of self-compassion on NSSI will benefit the development of interventions for adolescent NSSI.     

Brief report: The Utrecht-Management of Identity Commitments Scale (U-MICS): Gender and age measurement invariance and convergent validity of the Turkish version

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the factor structure and convergent validity of the Turkish version of the Utrecht-Management of Identity Commitments Scale (U-MICS). Participants were 1201 (59.6% females) youth aged between 12 and 24 years (M_age = 17.53 years, SD_age = 3.25). Results indicated that the three-factor model consisting of commitment, in-depth exploration, and reconsideration of commitment provided a very good fit to the data and applied equally well to boys and girls as well as to three age groups (early adolescents, middle adolescents, and emerging adults). Significant relations between identity processes and self-concept clarity, personality, internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors, and parental relationships supported convergent validity. Thus, the Turkish version of U-MICS is a reliable tool for assessing identity in Turkish-speaking respondents.     

Parents as a resource: Communication quality affects the relationship between adolescents' internet use and loneliness

The authors examined the influence of parent–adolescent communication quality, as perceived by the adolescents, on the link between adolescents' Internet use and loneliness, controlling for perceived family support in general terms. Adolescents (N = 216, M_age = 15.80 years) provided data on Internet use, loneliness, Internet-related parent–adolescent communication, and perceived family support. Moderated regression analyses showed that Internet-related communication quality determined whether more extensive Internet use was associated with more loneliness. This moderation effect remained significant when perceived family support in general terms was controlled for. Gender and age of the participants did not influence the findings. Implications for successful Internet-related parenting strategies are discussed.     

Sexting as the mirror on the wall: Body-esteem attribution,media models,and objectified-body consciousness

Sexting motivations during adolescence are related to developmental dimensions—such as sexual identity and body-image development—or harmful intentions—such as aggression among peers and partners. Sociocultural and media models can affect explorations of sexuality and redefinitions of body image, which in turn are related to sexting behaviors and motivations. In this study, we investigated the roles of body-esteem attribution, the internalization of media models, and body objectification as predictors of three sexting motivations: sexual purposes, body-image reinforcement, and instrumental/aggravated reasons. The participants were 190 Italian adolescents aged from 13 to 20 years old (M_age = 17.4, SD_age = 1.8; 44.7% females). Sexual purposes were predicted by body-esteem attribution and body objectification; body-image reinforcement was predicted by the internalization of media models, and instrumental/aggravated reasons were not predicted by any variable. Thus, only sexual purposes and body-image reinforcement appeared to be affected by body-image concerns due to media models.     

Encoding style and its relationships with schizotypal traits and impulsivity during adolescence

This study intends to explore how individual differences in encoding style (i.e. how encoding is implicitly affected by pre-existing schemata, so called an internal style, versus by cues from the outside world, so called an external style) are associated with schizotypal traits and impulsivity expression during adolescence. Moreover, we aim to provide first evidence reliability for the encoding style questionnaire with an adolescent sample. 101 French-speaking community adolescents (M_age=16.06, S.D._age=2.01; 57 girls; primarily Caucasian) participated in a cross-sectional study. The whole sample filled out a battery of self-report questionnaires. Our data supports a positive association between a predominant internal encoding style, the level of positive and disorganized schizotypal traits, and a higher degree of urgency and sensation seeking impulsivity components. On the one hand, these results have clinical implications in the sense that a low level in implicit processing, namely encoding style, is involved in positive and disorganized schizotypal traits as well as in impulsivity. Schizotypal traits and impulsivity are two sets of traits that put youth at risk for the development of severe psychopathological states in adulthood. On the other hand, this research enables an increased understanding of encoding style by providing the first reliable assessment tool for French-speaking adolescents.     

The interaction between sleep disturbances and anxiety sensitivity in relation to adolescent anger responses to parent adolescent conflict

IntroductionSleep disturbances are common among adolescents and are associated with elevated anxiety, and difficulties managing affect. Familial conflict is associated with both anxiety sensitivity and adolescent sleep disturbances. No work to date has examined how adolescent sleep disturbances may interact with anxiety sensitivity in relation to adolescent affective responding to parent-adolescent conflict. The current study was designed to address this gap in the literature by examining how adolescent sleep disturbances, anxiety sensitivity, conflict elicited anger, and conflict avoidance are associated.MethodSeventy-two American adolescents (n = 39 males) between the ages of 12 and 16 years (M_age = 13.84, SD = 1.38) completed a baseline assessment as well as a well-validated mother-adolescent laboratory-based conflict task.ResultsFor youth low in anxiety sensitivity, greater sleep disturbance related positively to conflict-elicited anger, which in turn predicted higher conflict avoidance. In contrast, this indirect effect was not significant for adolescents relatively higher in anxiety sensitivity. Instead, for these adolescents, increased sleep disturbances were associated with lower levels of conflict elicited anger.ConclusionsResults suggest that the effects of sleep disturbances on conflict elicited anger may vary as a function of adolescent anxiety vulnerability. These findings highlight the importance of considering the unique effects of sleep disturbances on adolescent affect as a function of adolescent anxiety vulnerability.     

Social media use and risky behaviors in adolescents: A meta-analysis

IntroductionThis systematic review and meta-analysis examined the associations between social media use and risky behaviors during adolescence, and evaluated study characteristics (e.g., sample age, type of social media platform assessed) that may moderate these relationships.MethodsA comprehensive search strategy identified relevant studies from PsycInfo, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Proquest Dissertations and Theses Global.ResultsThe final sample included 27 independent cross-sectional studies with a total of 67,407 adolescents (M_age = 15.5, range: 12.6–18.0 years; 51.7% girls; 57.2% White). Results from random effects models indicated that there were positive, small-to-medium correlations between social media use and engagement in risky behaviors generally (r = 0.21, 95% CI = 0.16-0.25), substance use (r = 0.19, 95% CI = 0.12-0.26), and risky sexual behaviors (r = 0.21, 95% CI = 0.15-0.28). There were an insufficient number of independent samples available to conduct a random effect models for violence-related behaviors (k = 3). Moderator analyses suggested that studies assessing solely early social media platforms (e.g., Facebook/MySpace only) in relation to substance use had smaller effect sizes than substance use studies assessing a broader range of contemporary social media platforms. In addition, younger samples had larger effect sizes for studies focused on social media use and risky sexual behaviors.ConclusionsThe positive links identified between social media and risky behaviors during adolescence in this meta-analysis suggest that developmental theories of risk taking would benefit from incorporating the social media context. Longitudinal studies are needed to clarify directionality and make more specific practice and policy recommendations so that social media is a safe place in which adolescents can thrive.     

Parental phubbing accelerates depression in late childhood and adolescence:A two-path model

IntroductionPhubbing is a social exclusion behavior related to mobile phone use. It undermines interpersonal relationships and mental health. This study aimed to test the connections between parental phubbing and depression in late childhood and adolescence, as well as the mediating roles of parental warmth, parental rejection, and relatedness need satisfaction.MethodsWe conducted two studies. Study 1 was a cross-sectional study of 530 Chinese students (268 boys and 262 girls, M_age = 13.15 ± 0.64 years) who completed self-report questionnaires. We conducted structural modeling to test the relationship between parental phubbing and depression. Study 2 used a short longitudinal design to validate the results of Study 1 and test the mediating roles of parental warmth, parental rejection, and relatedness need satisfaction. In Study 2, we recruited 293 Chinese students (151 boys, 141 girls, and one participant with no reported gender information, M _age = 12.87 ± 0.74 years) to complete the questionnaires and applied structural equation modeling to analyze the data.ResultsTwo sequential mediation effects were found. The first was parental phubbing → parental warmth → relatedness need satisfaction → depression (protection-reduced effect). The second was parental phubbing → parental rejection → relatedness need satisfaction → depression (risk-increased effect). Gender differences were non-significant.ConclusionsThe study revealed that parental phubbing was associated with students’ depression in late childhood and adolescence through two paths. The present study highlights the need to establish family norms regulating mobile phone use to reduce phubbing.     

Revisiting the immigrant paradox: Suicidal ideations and suicide attempts among immigrant and non-immigrant adolescents

The current study examined the immigrant paradox in suicidal ideations and attempts, whether rates and correlates varied across immigrant/non-immigrant youth in a nationally representative sample of 7,287 Swiss adolescents (10.2% 1st generation immigrants, 10.3% 2nd generation, and 16.1% mixed parentage; M_age = 17.45, SD = 1.85, 46.6% females). Known risk and protective factors for suicidal ideations and attempts (depressive symptoms, family and peer connectedness, and demographics) were used as correlates, and their effects were compared across groups. About 27% of youth thought about suicide in past 12 months, while 5.5% reported attempting suicide once in their lifetime. After controlling for known predictors and nationality, being an immigrant adolescent (1st, 2nd generation, or mixed parentage) lowered the risk for suicidal ideations as compared to native Swiss youth; immigrant status was unrelated to attempts. Findings provide mixed support for the immigrant paradox; both immigrant and native youth would benefit from effective intervention strategies.     

Behavioral and neural concordance in parent-child dyadic sleep patterns

Sleep habits developed in adolescence shape long-term trajectories of psychological, educational, and physiological well-being. Adolescents’ sleep behaviors are shaped by their parents’ sleep at both the behavioral and biological levels. In the current study, we sought to examine how neural concordance in resting-state functional connectivity between parent-child dyads is associated with dyadic concordance in sleep duration and adolescents’ sleep quality. To this end, we scanned both parents and their child (N = 28 parent-child dyads; parent M_age = 42.8 years; adolescent M_age = 14.9 years; 14.3% father; 46.4% female adolescent) as they each underwent a resting-state scan. Using daily diaries, we also assessed dyadic concordance in sleep duration across two weeks. Our results show that greater daily concordance in sleep behavior is associated with greater neural concordance in default-mode network connectivity between parents and children. Moreover, greater neural and behavioral concordances in sleep is associated with more optimal sleep quality in adolescents. The current findings expand our understanding of dyadic concordance by providing a neurobiological mechanism by which parents and children share daily sleep behaviors.     

The appearance culture between friends and adolescent appearance-based rejection sensitivity

Appearance-based rejection sensitivity (appearance-RS) is the tendency to anxiously expect, readily perceive, and overreact to signs of rejection based on one's appearance, and is associated with a number of psychological and social problems (Park, 2007). This study of 380 adolescents (M_age = 13.84) examined a model linking the appearance culture between friends with appearance-RS in adolescent boys and girls, via internalisation of appearance ideals, social comparison, and body dissatisfaction. Gender differences were also tested. Consistent with expectations, appearance-focused characteristics of the friendship context were associated with heightened appearance-RS via internalization of appearance ideals, social comparison, and body dissatisfaction. The appearance-focused friend characteristics that were associated with appearance-RS included exposure to friends' appearance conversations, appearance teasing that caused distress, and perceived pressure to be attractive. Notably, associations rarely differed for boys and girls, with one exception: the association between BMI and body dissatisfaction was stronger in girls than in boys.     

Buffering the effects of peer victimization on adolescent non-suicidal self-injury: The role of self-compassion and family cohesion

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a significant behavioral problem among adolescents all over the world. This study examined the longitudinal relationship between peer victimization and NSSI, as well as the buffering effects of self-compassion and family cohesion on this relationship. Data were collected at two time points from 525 secondary school students (226 girls; M_age = 12.97, SD = 1.02) in China. Results showed that peer victimization (marginally) significantly predicted NSSI over time even after controlling for Wave 1 NSSI. This association was weakened under the condition of high levels of self-compassion. Findings of this study emphasize the buffering effect of self-compassion in the relationship between peer victimization and NSSI, and are informative for prevention and intervention of this behavioral problem.