Autonomy as a potential moral resource: Parenting practices supporting youth need for autonomy negatively predict youth acceptance of academic dishonesty

Abstract

The current study examines the potential role of parenting practices posited to affect youths' need for autonomy in youths' acceptance of academic dishonesty. Results of Study 1, employing concurrent reports of 127 pairs of high school students and their parents in Mainland China, support the hypotheses that parental basic autonomy support correlates with autonomy need satisfaction, which is then associated with lower acceptance of academic dishonesty both directly and via agreement with parents' values. Study 2 extends the investigation by examining 304 Hong Kong college students longitudinally, with additional parenting practices measured. Results indicate that the parental practices of basic autonomy support, inherent value demonstration, and (absence of) conditional regard correlate with autonomy need satisfaction, which then predict reduced acceptance of academic dishonesty. Overall, this research demonstrates the importance of parental support for youths' need for autonomy for reducing students' acceptance of academic dishonesty.