Interactive effects of parental psychological control and autonomy support on emerging adults’ emotion regulation and self-esteem

Parent autonomy support and undergraduates' academic engagement in online learning: the mediate role of self-regulation

BACKGROUND

The role of parent support for adolescents has been validated in online learning. However, less attention has been paid to undergraduates.

MAIN BODY

The research used self-reported questionnaires to investigate the mediating effects of self-regulation in parent autonomy support and academic engagement (cognitive, behavioral, and emotional dimensions) within the online environment in the context of Chinese culture.

OBJECTIVE

The present study recruited 1908 undergraduates in China.

METHODS

The students completed measures of parent autonomy support, self-regulation and three sub-dimensions of academic engagement.

RESULTS

The results indicated that parent autonomy support exerted a direct and significant effect on the three sub-dimensions of academic engagement in online learning. Self-regulation partially mediated the relations between parent autonomy support and three sub-dimensions of academic engagement.

CONCLUSION

These findings showed parents should autonomously support students to promote their cognitive, behavioral, and emotional engagement. Moreover, the partial mediation explained how parent autonomy support affected three sub-dimensions of academic engagement. Limitations and educational implications were also discussed.

Associations between parental autonomy support and depressive symptoms among Chinese college students: the chain-mediating effects of mindfulness and self-esteem

Introduction

Despite extensive research on contextual factors will relieve college students' depressive symptoms, significant gaps remain in understanding the underlying mechanisms of this relationship, particularly through individual strength factors such as mindfulness and self-esteem. Based on self-determination theory, we explore the association between parental autonomy support and depressive symptoms among Chinese college students and whether mindfulness and self-esteem serve as mediators.

Methods

A total of 1,182 Chinese college students aged 16 to 27 years (Mage = 20.33, SD = 1.63; female = 55.7%) participated in this research. Questionnaires pertaining to parental autonomy support, mindfulness, self-esteem, and depressive symptoms were administered.

Results

The results revealed that depressive symptoms were negatively correlated with both paternal and maternal autonomy support, with mindfulness and self-esteem acting as chain-mediators. Specifically, mindfulness and self-esteem were positively impacted by parental autonomy support, whereas depressive symptoms were negatively impacted by mindfulness and self-esteem. Furthermore, paternal and maternal autonomy support significantly impacted depressive symptoms via both direct and indirect pathways. Indirect effects included three paths: mediation through mindfulness, mediation through self-esteem, and mediation through the mindfulness and self-esteem chain.

Discussion

The study highlights the fundamental mechanisms that account for the association between Chinese college students' parental autonomy support and depressive symptoms, these insights can be used to prevent and manage mental health problems among Chinese college students. For example, parents' autonomy support can directly reduce depressive symptoms, but we can also indirectly promote college students' mental health by emphasizing the mediation role of students' mindfulness and self-esteem.

Parental Psychological Control and Self-Efficacy as Predictors of Romantic Relationship Power Dynamics

In the current study, we utilized a person-centered approach to examine the relations of parental psychological control (PPC) and relationship self-efficacy (RSE) to power dynamics in emerging adults' romantic relationships. College student emerging adults (N = 312) completed measures assessing retrospective PPC, RSE, and perceived self and partner power in current relationships. Latent profile analysis uncovered four relationship types based on reported self- and partner-power: balanced-unified, balanced-interchanging, unbalanced-high self, and unbalanced-high partner. Increases in PPC were related to increased odds of being in an unbalanced relationship. Higher levels of RSE were associated with decreased odds of being in an unbalanced relationship. Further, even individuals in the balanced profile who reported average levels of both self and partner power (balanced-interchanging) reported higher levels of PPC and lower levels of RSE compared to those in the balanced group where levels of both self and partner power were low (balanced-unified). These findings suggest using a person-centered approach to relationship power may advance our conceptualization of power distribution in romantic relationships. Further, experienced family dynamics and one's sense of self may be especially important for young adults' tendency to form healthy relationships. The current findings encourage future investigation into the mechanisms by which parental factors predict both dominance and submissiveness in romantic relationships. Understanding predictors of power dynamics may contribute to intimate partner violence prevention and intervention.

The Mental Health of Emerging Adults: Hostile Home Environments and COVID-19

Purpose

Due to shifts in societal and educational expectations alongside the COVID-19 pandemic, many emerging adults live with their family of origin for extended periods of time. Little is known about patterns of parent-perpetrated maltreatment in emerging adulthood. Therefore, this study evaluates the relation between forms of parent-perpetrated maltreatment, including economic abuse, and COVID stress, on symptoms of depression, anxiety, and traumatic stress.

Method

423 emerging adults who were enrolled in college in the United States in March of 2020 were recruited via MTurk to complete an online survey. An age-related COVID questionnaire and six empirically validated measures assess levels of COVID-19 exposure, lifetime maltreatment, economic abuse, and mental health status.

Results

13.0% of participants reported maltreatment that most recently occurred over the age of 18 in their household of origin. Mean COVID stress level was found to be significantly higher in the Maltreated Over 18 group compared to the Never Maltreated group (t(345) = -3.03, p = 0.003), and in the Maltreated Under 18 group compared to the Never Maltreated group (t(346) = -3.20, p = 0.002). In accounting for the contribution of demographic variables, maltreatment chronicity, economic abuse, and COVID stress, our model predicted 38.6% of variance in depression symptoms, 37.2% of variance in anxiety symptoms, and 42.9% of variance in traumatic stress.

Conclusions

Findings indicate need for increased maltreatment screenings within the emerging adult population and calls for age-specific interventions to address the mental health disparities experienced by emerging adults with maltreatment histories.

A dual-pathway model for examining the effects of customer mistreatment on an employee's customer-directed counterproductive work behavior: can job autonomy make a difference?

Purpose

This research examined how customer mistreatment activates individual customer-directed counterproductive work behavior (CWBC) by investigating the mediating roles of negative work reflection and negative affect. It also explored whether job autonomy buffers the negative impact of customer mistreatment on CWBC.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors tested their predictions using an experience-sample method with a sample of data from 79 service workers across eight days. A multilevel structural equation model was used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The authors found that negative work reflection and negative affect mediated the association between customer mistreatment and CWBC. In addition, job autonomy moderated the indirect impact of daily customer mistreatment on employees' CWBC through negative work reflection and negative affect.

Research limitations/implications

There are some concerns about a common method because all of the study variables were self-reported. Moreover, the study sample consisted of participants recruited exclusively from China, thus limiting this research's generality.

Practical implications

To eliminate the detrimental impact of customer mistreatment, supervisors can strive to improve the autonomy of those who interact with customers frequently to reduce their CWBC.

Originality/value

This study offers an integrative view to explain why service workers engage in CWBC when suffering customer mistreatment by testing the mediating mechanisms of negative reflection and negative affect in the association between daily customer mistreatment and CWBC. Second, the authors have broadened the study of customer mistreatment by introducing job autonomy as a critical condition, eliminating the indirect association between customer mistreatment and CWBC.

Parental Autonomy Support and Mental Health among Chinese Adolescents and Emerging Adults: The Mediating Role of Self-Esteem

Guided by the dual-factor model and self-determination theory, this study explored the relationship between parental autonomy support and mental health (i.e., life satisfaction and emotional problems) in adolescents and emerging adults, with a focus on the mediating role of self-esteem. We conducted two studies among independent samples in China, including 1617 adolescents aged 10 to 17 years (Mage =12.79, SD = 1.63; 50.7% girls; Study 1) and 1274 emerging adults aged 17 to 26 years (Mage = 20.31, SD = 1.63; 56.6% women; Study 2). All participants completed a set of self-reported questionnaires. The results of both studies validated our hypothesis; specifically, parental autonomy support was positively associated with life satisfaction, but negatively associated with emotional problems (emotional symptoms in Study 1 and depressive symptoms in Study 2). Meanwhile, self-esteem partially mediated the positive relationship between parental autonomy support and life satisfaction (R² = 0.33 in Study 1; R² = 0.38 in Study 2), and partially mediated the negative relationship between parental autonomy support and emotional problems (R² = 0.16 in Study 1; R² = 0.42 in Study 2). In summary, this suggests that the common antecedents of positive and negative indicators of mental health addressed in this study are prevalent in adolescents and emerging adults. These findings have important implications for preventive and interventional efforts aimed at mental health problems in both demographics.