Parental monitoring predict externalizing problem in adolescents: the mediating role of peer delinquency and the moderating role of psychoticism

Abstract

Objective To explore the influence of parental monitoring, peer delinquency and psychoticism on externalizing problem in adolescents. Methods 2 504 adolescents aged 10-16 from 7 provinces in China participated in the surveys with externalizing problem, parental monitoring, peer delinquency and psychoticism were measured. The mediating effect of peer delinquency and the moderating effect of psychoticism were tested by stepped multiple linear regression and Bootstrap procedures. Results ①The scores of maternal monitoring, paternal monitoring, psychoticism, peer delinquency and externalizing problem were (4.02±1.00), (3.49±1.19), (3.10±2.77), (1.25±0.27) and (5.10±4.63) respectively; ②Parental monitoring negatively predicted externalizing problem in adolescents(βmother=-1.240, βfather=-0.981, P<0.05). ③Peer delinquency played a partial mediating role in the relation between parental monitoring and externalizing problem, the percentages of mediating effect to total effect respectively were 25.0% and 26.2%. ④The mediation effect of peer delinquency was moderated by psychoticism(a1b3mother=-0.016, a1b3father=-0.014, P<0.05). Conclusion Psychoticism moderated the mediation effect of peer delinquency in the relation between parental monitoring and externalizing problem in adolescents. Key words: Parental monitoring; Peer delinquency; Psychoticism; Externalizing problem; Moderated mediation