Bidirectional Relations Between Authoritative Parenting and Adolescents’ Prosocial Behaviors

Abstract

This study examined the bidirectional relations between authoritative parenting and adolescents' prosocial behavior over a 1-year time period. Data were taken from Time 2 and 3 of the Flourishing Families Project, and included reports from 319 two-parent families with an adolescent child (M age of child at Time 2 = 12.34, SD = 1.06, 52% girls). Crosslag analyses supported bidirectional relations between parenting and prosocial behavior with particular emphasis on the role of the adolescents' prosocial behavior on subsequent parenting. Results also varied as a function of the reporter. Discussion focuses on the implications for understanding the multifaceted nature of prosocial development in adolescence.We thank the Family Studies Center at BYU, the School of Family Life, and the College of Family Home and Social Science at BYU, and we recognize the generous support of the many private donors who provided support for this project. We also thank those families who were willing to spend valuable hours with our team in interviews, and the many students who assisted in conducting the interviews.Requests for reprints should be sent to

Mothers' Management of Adolescent Peer Relationships: Associations With Aggressive, Prosocial, and Playful Behavior

“…In one investigation that examined the association between parenting style and adolescents' prosocial behavior, maternal warmth was related to higher levels of sympathy and prosocial behavior in children across a three-year period (Carlo, Mestre, Samper, Tur, & Armenta, 2011). Similarly, in a one-year longitudinal investigation of early adolescents, Padilla-Walker, Carlo, Christensen, & Yorgason (2012) reported that mothers' authoritative parenting was related to prosocial behavior toward mothers. In another investigation, several parenting practices, including conversations about prosocial behavior, were positively related to adolescents' prosocial behavior (Carlo, McGinley, Hayes, Batenhorst, & Wilkinson, 2007).…”

“…Likewise, in another investigation, parental involvement was differentially related to prosocial behavior toward strangers, friends, and family members (Padilla-Walker & Christensen, 2011). Padilla-Walker et al (2012) suggested that much of the existing literature on prosocial behavior is related to more general prosocial behavior, as opposed to prosocial behavior directed toward a particular recipient. In addition, Padilla-Walker and Christensen underscored Downloaded by [Mount Allison University 0Libraries] at 07:59 08 October 2015 the need for investigations that examine parenting and prosocial behavior in specific contexts.…”

Respiratory sinus arrhythmia, effortful control, and parenting as predictors of children’s sympathy across early childhood.

“…Supporting this, researchers have found that children’s sympathy and empathy are positively associated with parental use of inductive practices (Carlo, Knight, McGinley, & Hayes, 2011; Carlo, McGinley, Hayes, Batenhorst, & Wilkinson, 2007; Laible, Eye, & Carlo, 2008; Zahn-Waxler, Radke-Yarrow, Wagner, & Chapman, 1992). Moreover, authoritative parenting has generally been associated with prosocial behaviors (e.g., Padilla-Walker, Carlo, Christensen, & Yorgason, 2012), which tend to be correlated with, and predicted by, sympathy (Eisenberg et al, 2006). …”

Parenting, Socioeconomic Status and Psychosocial Functioning in Peruvian Families and their Children. [Crianza, Nivel Socioeconómico y Funcionamiento Psicosocial en Familias Peruanas y sus Niños]

“…Previous research work has focused on external behavior disorder but far too little attention has been paid to selfworth and prosocial behaviors (Padilla-Walker, Carlo, Christensen & Yorgason, 2012).…”