Faculty Publications

The Mediating Effects Of Parentification On The Relation Between Parenting Behavior And Well-Being And Depressive Symptoms In Early Adolescents

Document Type

Article

Keywords

Depressive symptoms, Early adolescents, Neglect, Parentification, Parenting behaviors, Well-being

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Journal of Child and Family Studies

Volume

27

Issue

12

First Page

4044

Last Page

4059

Abstract

Approximately 3 million child and adolescent cases are investigated for maltreatment each year, and 75% of those cases are categorized as neglect. Parentification, a form of neglect, has emerged as an important clinical topic and focus of empirical research. Similar to the research base on neglect, the accumulated literature point toward a significant positive relation between parentification and pernicious outcomes, although nascent literature also has found a link between parentification and resiliency and select competencies. The purpose of the current study was two-fold: (a) To explore the extent to which parentification mediates the relation between parenting behaviors and depressive symptoms and well-being (as measured by negative and positive affect) in a sample of early adolescents (i.e., ages 11–14)? And, (b) to what extent does gender moderate the proposed mediation model? We found in our sample (N = 314) parentification mediated the association between parenting behaviors and depressive symptoms (negative affect) and partially mediated the relation between parenting behaviors and well-being (positive affect). In addition, gender partially moderated select mediation models. These findings may be useful in the conceptualization of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies focused on family systems and parenting interventions in families where parentification has occurred.

Department

Department of Educational Psychology and Foundations

Department

Center for Educational Transformation

Original Publication Date

12-1-2018

DOI of published version

10.1007/s10826-018-1215-0

Repository

UNI ScholarWorks, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa

Language

en

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