Systemic Patterns of Parenting as Reported by Adolescents

Abstract

Parent behaviors are usually characterized globally in research on psychosocial outcomes, but mothers and fathers may show disparate patterns of control and influence. To examine perceived incongruence in parents' behaviors, 5th, 8th, and 11th graders' reports of each parent's childrearing practices were cluster analyzed Four clusters emerged: atn authoritative congruent pattern, in which both parents were accepting and allowed autonomy, with appropriate discipline; a permissive congruent pattern, in which parents were accepting and allowed autonomy but with lax discipline; and two incongruent patterns, in which either mother or father was perceived as authoritative, whereas thte other parent was perceived as rejecting, not allowing autonomy, and exerting a high level of control. Perceptions of incongruent parenting patterns were associated with lower self-esteem, school adaptation, and school achievement in offspring than were congruent perceptions. Compared to fifth graders, adolescents were more likely to perceive incongruent mothler-father patterns and less likely to perceive congruence in authoritative parenting.