The moderating effect of conformity to parental expectations on the association between autonomy support and adolescent self-efficacy

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Kenneshia Washington (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Advisor
Andrew Supple

Abstract: Autonomy support during adolescence has been associated with greater self-efficacy, while parental control has been associated with diminished self-efficacy. Few studies have examined the independent influence of conformity to parental expectations (a need thwarting practice) on adolescent outcomes or how it influences the relationship between autonomy support and general self-efficacy. The current study’s sample was drawn from the Adolescent Resiliency in Multi-Cultural Communities (ARMCC) dataset (Plunkett & Ba´maca-Go´mez, 2003). A sample of 134 Armenian and Latino 9th-through 12th-grade adolescents was used to examine the individual effects of autonomy support and conformity on adolescent reports of general self-efficacy. The moderating effect of conformity to parental expectations on the relationship between autonomy support and general self-efficacy was also examined. Adolescent reports of autonomy support, conformity to parental expectations, and general self-efficacy were measured using self-reports. Results indicated that autonomy supportive parenting led to increased reports of general self-efficacy, while conformity to parental expectations led to diminished reports of general self-efficacy. Moreover, the interaction term revealed that as conformity increased to moderate and high levels the relationship between autonomy support and general self-efficacy weakened. These findings raise important questions regarding the impact of autonomy and conformity on adolescent outcomes via their impact on self-efficacy.

Additional Information

Publication
Thesis
Language: English
Date: 2018
Keywords
Adolescent development, Autonomy, Conformity, Parent-child interactions, Self-efficacy
Subjects
Parent and teenager
Adolescent psychology
Autonomy in adolescence
Self-efficacy
Conformity

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