Effects of Fathers’ Psychological Control on Adolescent Subjective Well-Being: Mediating Effects of Internalized Shame and Ambivalent Emotional Expression

Abstract

Objectives: This study investigated how fathers’ use of psychological control affects adolescents’ subjective well-being, mediated by their internalized shame and ambivalent emotional expression. Additionally, potential gender differences in these relationships were also examined.Methods: A total of 235 middle-school students (118 boys, 117 girls) were recruited and independent samples t-tests, Pearson correlation coefficient analysis, and structural equation modeling were utilized for data analysis. Potential differences in the pathways based on adolescents’ gender were explored via multi-group analysis.Results: Fathers’ psychological control had a direct impact on girls’ subjective well-being, but only indirect effects on boys’ and girls’ subjective well-being through internalized shame. The indirect effect of fathers’ psychological control on boys’ subjective well-being through ambivalent emotional expression was significant, but not for girls. Lastly, the indirect effect on boys’ subjective well-being through internalized shame and ambivalent emotional expression was significant. The paths between fathers’ psychological control and adolescents’ internalized shame, as well as between adolescents’ ambivalent emotional expression and subjective well-being, exhibited significant gender differences.Conclusion: These results demonstrate that fathers’ use of psychological control significantly impacts adolescents’ subjective well-being, but in different ways for boys and girls. Thus, it is crucial to consider the differing roles of fathers in parent-child relationships during adolescence, and to develop tailored parent and family education programs accordingly.