How Do Adolescents Manage Information in the Relationship with Their Parents? A Latent Class Analysis of Disclosure, Keeping Secrets, and Lying

Abstract

The use of disclosure and concealment strategies by adolescents in the relationship with their parents may have important implications for their adjustment. Few studies of adolescents’ information management have taken a person-centered approach, yet it is a useful way to understand variations in how they regulate information shared with their parents. This study explored adolescents’ information management constellations with their mothers and fathers, and how these patterns differ in terms of perceived need-supportive parenting, autonomous reasons for disclosure, and problematic alcohol use. Three hundred thirty-two Swiss adolescents (45% female; Mage = 15.01 years) reported information management strategies used with each parent (disclosure, keeping secrets, lying), perceptions of maternal and paternal need-supportive parenting (involvement, autonomy support, structure), autonomous reasons for disclosure, and problematic alcohol use. Latent class analyses revealed three classes: Reserved (37%), Communicators (36%), and Deceptive (27%). Comparisons across classes showed that adolescents in the Communicators class reported the highest levels of parental involvement and autonomy support, as well as autonomous reasons for disclosure. Adolescents in the Deceptive class reported the lowest levels of parental involvement and autonomy support, as well as autonomous reasons for disclosure. Associations between classes and problematic alcohol use were also found, such that the likelihood of problem drinking was greater for adolescents in the Deceptive class. These findings underscore the importance of continued information sharing with both parents, and underline how a need-supportive parenting context may encourage adolescents to talk voluntarily.

Familial digital mediation as a gendered issue between parents

“…As children develop into teenagers, these primary agents are partly ‘replaced’ by other identity models—such as friends or peers—that act as identity agents and self-recognition mediators (Balleys, 2015). In this, we echo the insights of other studies that examine parent-child negotiations during the onset of adolescence, when children begin to question parental self-patterns (Baudat et al, 2022). In other words, that moment when the child becomes reflexive and even critical of the way their parents’ name and assign meaning to the world.…”

The Involvement of Age, Gender, and Personality Variables in Alcohol Consumption during the Start of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Romanian University Students

“…In the present study it was identified that subjects with low scores on the Frankness scale are at risk for problematic alcohol, which is similar to what has been found in other studies [ 26 , 27 , 28 ]. Baudat et al, researched how teenagers manage information in their relationship with their parents and identified three types of information management strategies, namely Reserved, Communicators, and Deceptive [ 66 ]. They found that those in the Deceptive class were more likely to have problem drinking.…”

The role of parenting in developmental trajectories of risk for adolescent substance use: a bioecological systems cascade model

“…A recent study examined multiple parenting behaviors specifically regarding media parenting (e.g., device access, communication and monitoring of online activities; Cox et al, 2021 ). A set of studies focused specifically on communication about substance use, incorporating parent-based and family communication styles ( Choi et al, 2017 ), topics and frequency of parent-teen communication about substance use ( Abar et al, 2011 ; Koning et al, 2012 ), and adolescent disclosure, secrecy, and lying ( Baudat et al, 2022 ). Across nearly all the disparate family based latent profiles, higher risk profiles emerged from combinations of known risk factors that were linked to substance use in expected directions.…”