Faculty Articles

Parental Control for Latinas and Non-Latinas: Implications for Emerging Adult Mental Health

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Journal of Child and Family Studies

ISSN

1573-2843

Publication Date

4-2019

Abstract

Objectives

The overall goal of this study was to develop a stronger understanding of the role of culture in shaping the experience of parental control and its mental health implications for emerging adults. Specifically, the study focused parental psychological and behavioral control, and their potential implications for emerging adults’ hopelessness and depressive symptoms. A core hypothesis is that associations of parental control with mental health would differ between Latinas and non-Latinas because of cultural differences in parental expectations and parent-child dynamics. Additionally, similarities and differences in the role of mothers’ and fathers’ control were explored.

Methods

The sample consisted of 330 female emerging adults, including 146 Latinas and 184 non-Latinas. Participants completed questionnaires assessing their perceptions of parental psychological and behavioral control, of mothers and fathers separately, and mental health indicators.

Results

Results from path models demonstrated the relevance of mothers’ psychological control for both Latinas and non-Latinas, while differential implications of mothers’ behavioral control were found for Latinas and non-Latinas. In addition, mothers’ psychological control appeared to be more salient than fathers’ psychological control for female emerging adults’ mental health.

Conclusions

The role of culture in the function of parental control for emerging adults’ mental health is discussed.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-019-01345-4

Volume

28

Issue

4

First Page

1071

Last Page

1083

Link to Full Text
Peer Reviewed

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