Parent text messages behaviors and emerging adult percieved support of autonomy
- UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Morgan T. Brown (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
- Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
- Advisor
- Michaeline Jenssen
Abstract: The present study examines how parent-emerging adults digital interactions relate to emerging adult perceptions of parental autonomy support. Specifically, this study tested whether digitally enacted parenting behaviors tapping engagement (as captured by texting frequency, monitoring (as captured by codes for parental solicitation, parental control, and emerging adult disclosure) and responsiveness (as captured by codes for parental warmth, emotional/esteem support, advice giving, and instrumental support provision) are associated with emerging adult perceptions of parental support for their autonomy. I hypothesized that those emerging adults whose mothers and fathers texted them more frequently would perceive that parent as less supportive of their autonomy. I further expected that those emerging adults whose mothers and fathers exhibited more responsiveness over text-message would perceive that parent as more supportive of their autonomy, whereas emerging adults whose mothers and fathers exhibited more monitoring over text-message would perceive that parent as less supportive of their autonomy. Finally, over and above the linear effects hypothesized above, I expected that a curvilinear pattern might best characterize these associations, such that a moderate amount of parent-emerging adult texting frequency, digital responsiveness, and monitoring would be associated with the highest perceived levels of parental support of autonomy. College students at an elite southeastern university (N = 267) contributed all their text messages (569,172 text messages) over two weeks. Text messages with designated mothers and fathers (27,739 text messages sent/received by N = 238 emerging adults) were qualitatively coded for indicators of monitoring and responsiveness. Participants also answered survey questions, including their own perceptions of how supportive their mothers and fathers were of their psychological autonomy. In structural equation models I regressed emerging adult perceived mother and father support of autonomy (separately) on mother-emerging adult and father-emerging adult text frequency and coded indicators of monitoring and responsiveness. Results indicate that many dimensions of parent-emerging adult texting are unrelated to perceived parental support of autonomy, but that, at high levels of certain behaviors, emerging adults may find parent-emerging adult text messaging behaviors autonomy inhibiting. Results highlight that much of parent-emerging adult texting may not be perceived as intrusive or autonomy inhibiting.
Parent text messages behaviors and emerging adult percieved support of autonomy
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Created on 8/1/2022
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Thesis
- Language: English
- Date: 2022
- Keywords
- Autonomy, College, Emerging adulthood, Parenting, Text messages
- Subjects
- Young adults $x Psychology
- Autonomy (Psychology)
- Parenting
- Text messaging (Cell phone systems)