Emotional Separation, Autonomy in Decision-Making, and Psychosocial Adjustment in Adolescence: A Proposed Typology

Abstract

Adolescence is critical for learning autonomous behavior; however, little research is available on the most appropriate balance of the emotional and behavioral dimensions of autonomy for psychosocial adjustment during this period. In this study we present a novel autonomy typology that combines both these aspects, which can be implemented as autonomy in decision-making and emotional separation. Specifically, examined age differences in emotional separation and autonomy in decision-making during adolescence. We also assessed differences in psychosocial adjustment associated with profiles of autonomy typology, sex, and age. The participants were 567 adolescents (296 males and 271 females), aged between 12 and 18 years (M = 14.48; SD = 1.69), recruited in Spanish high schools. Each participant filled out questionnaires on identity commitment, self-esteem, emotional separation and autonomy in decisionmaking. The results showed that the most advantageous autonomy profile is 'autonomous in decisions' (those showing low emotional separation combined with autonomous behavior in decisions) which was associated with higher levels of self-esteem and occupational and ideological identity commitment. In addition, we also concluded that the balance of autonomy effects adjustment throughout adolescence, although early adolescence may be an especially critical period.

Parenting and Healthy Teenage Lifestyles

“…In addition, closeness to the parent delays the appearance of antisocial disorders [79]. All this highlights the importance of an adequate gradation between the emotional, behavioral, and cognitive dimensions of autonomy, as proposed by the autonomy typology [48].…”

“…Therefore, it seems interesting to understand the beneficial impact of this asynchronous development The type of confrontation has a big impact on healthy lifestyles in the short and long term. Therefore, it seems interesting to understand the beneficial impact of this asynchronous development of the different facets of autonomy and respect it [47,48]. It is also useful to understand how parenting styles contribute to the optimal resolution of the discrepancy between parents and adolescents.…”

“…Despite the fact that it diminishes when the cultural gap between the two decreases [52], it is common for the amount of discretion expected by adolescents to be greater than that estimated by their parents, as shown by the delay phenomenon in Figure 6. of the different facets of autonomy and respect it [47,48]. It is also useful to understand how parenting styles contribute to the optimal resolution of the discrepancy between parents and adolescents.…”

Psychological Well-Being and Youth Autonomy: Comparative Analysis of Spain and Colombia

“…However, cultural factors have an enormous impact on an individual’s sense of autonomy, as well as the prevalent values and guiding principles in an individual’s cultural context, which shape their global perception of right and wrong and the different roles that they are expected to take on throughout their lives, one of which is the process through which young people separate from their parents ( Parra et al, 2015 ; Blanco et al, 2019 ; Cabas et al, 2019 ). Psychological well-being is also harmonized by the influence of the environment and, especially, by the support received during the process through which young people access their autonomy ( Greeson et al, 2015 ; Kouros et al, 2017 ) and the socialization process ( Lun and Bond, 2016 ; Alonso-Stuyck et al, 2018 ).…”

Positive Adolescent Development: Effects of a Psychosocial Intervention Program in a Rural Setting

“…This complex skill is developed throughout adolescence and should be fomented in order to compensate for the imbalance that exists between cognitive and motivational nerve connections that produce a certain vulnerability and increase impulsiveness and risk-taking [ 34 , 41 ]. Responsible and autonomous decision making leads the adolescent to achieve good psychosocial adjustment and greater social commitment [ 42 ].…”