Familial pot boiler: Pressures from inside and outside and parental psychological control

Abstract

The current study examined the contribution of both external (socialization goals) and internal parental characteristics (attachment insecurity, contingent self-worth, and parental helplessness) to parental psychological control (PPC). A sample of 159 Israeli triads of mothers, fathers, and elementary-school-age children participated in the study. The findings of parents’ self-reports indicated associations between fathers’ and mothers’ socialization goals, attachment orientations, parental helplessness, contingent self-worth, and PPC. A mediation path analysis model revealed direct positive associations between mothers’ and fathers’ contingent self-worth, socialization goals emphasizing obedience, and their self-reports of PPC. Mothers’ autonomous socialization goals had a direct negative association with maternal and child-reported PPC. A direct association was found between fathers’ attachment anxiety and paternal PPC, while indirect associations were found between mothers’ contingent self-worth, attachment avoidance and anxiety, and maternal PPC through mothers’ helplessness. The results highlight how internal and external factors can increase PPC, possibly putting children at risk.