Autonomy and Adolescent Social Functioning: The Moderating Effect of Risk

Abstract

This study examined the moderating effect of risk on the relation between autonomy processes and family and adolescent functioning. The present sample comprised 131 adolescents from either a lowrisk or high-risk social context, their mothers, and their peers. Observational ratings of autonomy processes within the mother-adolescent dyad were obtained, along with adolescent reports of the quality of the mother-adolescent relationship, and both adolescent and peer reports of the adolescent's functioning. Consistent with past research, in low-risk families, behavior undermining autonomy was negatively related to relationship quality, and adolescents' expressions of autonomy were linked with positive indices of social functioning. In high-risk families, however, undermining of autonomy was positively linked with mother-adolescent relationship quality, and adolescents' expressions of autonomy were linked with negative indices of social functioning. Results are interpreted as demonstrating the ways in which the developmental task of attaining autonomy in adolescence is systematically altered depending on the level of risk and challenge in the adolescent's social context.

Attachment and Autonomy During Adolescence

“…Observational studies of adolescents ' expressions of autonomy during discussions with their parents (cognitive/verbal autonomy) suggest that these teens are both more interpersonally competent and more socially accepted, and they develop closer and more supportive relationships with their friends (Allen, Bell, & Boykin, 2000 ;Hall, 2002 ;McElhaney, 2000 ;McElhaney & Allen, 2001 ). In contrast, both self -report and observational studies demonstrate that undermining of autonomy within the parentadolescent relationship is linked to a range of problems in social functioning, such as greater amounts of hostility in relationships with peers (Allen & Hauser, 1993 ;Allen, Hauser, O ' Connor, & Bell, 2002b ), more peer rejection (Marsh & McFarland, 2002 ), decreased interpersonal competence McElhaney), and increasingly distant peer relationships (Tencer, Meyer, & Hall, 2003 ).…”

“…However, these differences may at least partially depend on the gender of the parent and on other family characteristics, such as cultural context and parental attitudes toward gender roles (Bumpus, Crouter, & McHale, 1998 ;Daddis & Smetana, 2005 ). Further, as indicated above, most of the observational literature on autonomy development has not found any moderating effects of adolescent gender with regard to the concurrent and short -term links between parent -adolescent autonomy negotiation and adolescent outcomes (Allen et al, 1994a ;1994b ;McElhaney & Allen, 2001 ). In summary, there is some evidence that dyadic variations in parent -teen relationships do exist, though the exact nature of such variations is not entirely clear, and there are likely complex interactions between the gender of the adolescent and the gender of the parent.…”

“…What does seem to be clear from the research to date is that attachment security versus insecurity does not generally vary according to gender, and that a secure state of mind with regard to attachment is linked to a range of positive outcomes for both genders. Further, promotion of autonomy (particularly cognitive/verbal autonomy) also appears to be equally positive for both male and female teens (Allen et al, 1994a ;McElhaney & Allen, 2001 ).…”

“…Further, several recent surveys of parenting practices in primarily African American samples have demonstrated that the level of environmental risk moderates the links between parental restriction of autonomy and adolescent adjustment. In high -risk contexts within these samples, parental restriction of autonomy during early and middle adolescence is linked with positive indices of adjustment, including higher levels of academic competence, decreased externalizing behaviors, and more positive self -worth (Baldwin et al, 1990 ;Gonzales, Cauce, Friedman, & Mason, 1996 ;Mason, Cauce, Gonzales, & Hiraga, 1996 ;Smetana, CampioneBarr, & Daddis, 2004 were high on undermining of cognitive/verbal autonomy as more trustworthy and accepting; teens from low -risk settings, however, viewed highly undermining mothers as more psychologically controlling, and they reported feeling more alienated from them (McElhaney & Allen, 2001 ). In this same study, higher levels of adolescents ' expressions of autonomy were linked to positive outcomes for low -risk teens (higher levels of competence with peers), but to negative outcomes for high -risk teens (higher levels of engagement in delinquent behaviors).…”

Género y Autonomía en la Adolescencia: Las diferencias entre chicos y chicas aumentan a los 16 años

“…En la actualidad existe consenso de que el nivel de logro de comportamientos autónomos es un modulador clave del proceso de transición de la adolescencia hacia la adultez (Benaches, 1981;Chou, 2000;Fleming y Aguiar, 1992;Frank et al, 2002;McElhaney y Allen, 2001;Noom et al, 1999). Por ejemplo, hay evidencia de asociación entre el fracaso al intentar independizarse, y un progreso deficiente en los comportamientos autónomos de los adolescentes (Chen, 1999; Cohen et al, 2003;Fleming, 1983;Moore, 1987;Pinheiro et al, 2001).…”