Predictors of Maternal and Early Adolescent Attitudes Toward Children’s Nurturance and Self-Determination Rights

Abstract

Children’s rights to nurturance and self-determination have been included in social policy agendas for many years. Children’s and parents’ attitudes concerning children’s rights are likely an important determinant of whether rights on paper actually serve to protect the well-being of children, yet there is little research on factors associated with support for children’s rights. This study examined maternal (parenting style, sociopolitical attitudes) and child (emotional autonomy, role in family decision making) characteristics associated with attitudes toward children’s nurturance and self-determination rights. Maternal responsiveness was related to child support for both nurturance and self-determination rights and maternal endorsement of self-determination, whereas demandingness was negatively related to support for self-determination and children’s involvement in family decision making. Maternal conservatism was negatively related to mothers’ support for nurturance and self-determination rights. Support for self-determination rights, child participation in family decision making, and children’s emotional autonomy were positively related. Implications and limitations of findings are discussed.