Childhood playtime, parenting, and psychopathology in emerging adults: Implications for research and play therapists.

Abstract

Research links decreased playtime during early education and rigid parenting to poorer outcomes in children. However, it is not known how the effects of playtime extend into emerging adulthood. Thus, the current study examines perceived parenting, perceived childhood playtime, and psychopathology as reported by 328 emerging adults ranging in age from 18 to 25 years. Measures of perceived parenting included the Parental Bonding Instrument, Parental Authority Questionnaire, and Parental Environment Questionnaire. A perceptions of play questionnaire was developed to measure childhood playtime for the current study. Measures of psychopathology included the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Inventory and the Adult Self-Report. Structural equation modeling was used to examine correlations among the latent factors in measurement models and path coefficients in structural models. Results indicate that perceived positive parenting and perceived childhood playtime are associated with reported psychopathology. Further, perceived positive parenting is associated with perceived childhood playtime in females but not in males. Overall, results suggest the importance of childhood playtime as well as gender effects related to parenting. Implications of results are discussed as related to research and practice, including play therapy.

Perceived parent–child religiosity: Moderation by perceived maternal and paternal warmth and autonomy granting and emerging adult gender.

“…Emerging adulthood, ages 18 to 25 years, represents the time between adolescence and adulthood where individuals continue to develop their identity (Arnett, 2000) as they separate from but still rely on their parents (McKinney & Power, 2012). The influence of parental religiosity begins at a young age when parents disseminate religiosity through teaching, discussions, role modeling, and coparticipation in religious activities (Boyatzis & Janicki, 2003; Dollahite & Marks, 2005); parents continue to use these techniques into emerging adulthood (McKinney & Power, 2012).…”

“…Emerging adulthood, ages 18 to 25 years, represents the time between adolescence and adulthood where individuals continue to develop their identity (Arnett, 2000) as they separate from but still rely on their parents (McKinney & Power, 2012). The influence of parental religiosity begins at a young age when parents disseminate religiosity through teaching, discussions, role modeling, and coparticipation in religious activities (Boyatzis & Janicki, 2003; Dollahite & Marks, 2005); parents continue to use these techniques into emerging adulthood (McKinney & Power, 2012). Moreover, emerging adulthood is an especially important period that helps to determine individuals’ religiosity as they begin to experience new life roles and gain different world views, likely resulting in reexamination of parent–child relationships and religious issues (Barry, Nelson, Davarya, & Urry, 2010).…”

Transmission of Religiosity From Parent to Child: Moderation by Perceived Parental Depression and Anxiety

“…Specifically, Arnett (2000) suggests that emerging adults are characterized by a delay in three areas: extended period of education, delay in leaving home, and choosing to wait to get married. College students generally meet two of the three criteria (higher education and delay of marriage), sometimes remain living with their parents or close enough to visit often, and still rely on their parents (McKinney & Power, 2012). Moreover, this phase is a period during which individuals attempt to establish their own identities, specifically in the areas of work, romance, and their worldviews.…”

Connection between Parent–Child Religiosity: Moderated Mediation by Perceived Maternal and Paternal Warmth and Overprotection and Emerging Adult Gender

“…Religiosity is the result of many factors, such as genetics, personality, family, peers, schools, and religious organizations (King and Roeser 2009), with parental religiosity being one of the most influential (Myers 1996). For example, parents socialize their children's religiosity through formal teaching, informal discussions, role modeling, and coparticipation in religious activities (Pearce and Thornton 2007) and continue these techniques into emerging adulthood (McKinney and Power 2013). Religious practices established in childhood continued into adolescence and emerging adulthood (Smith and Snell 2009) with perceived similarity between children's beliefs and that of their parents predicting emerging adult religiosity (Leonard et al 2012).…”