Maternal and Paternal Psychological Control as Moderators of the Link between Peer Attitudes and Adolescents’ Risky Sexual Behavior

Abstract

Maternal and paternal psychological control, peer attitudes, and the interaction of psychological control and peer attitudes at age 13 were examined as predictors of risky sexual behavior before age 16 in a community sample of 181 youth followed from age 13 to 16. Maternal psychological control moderated the link between peer attitudes and sexual behavior. Peer acceptance of early sex predicted greater risky sexual behaviors, but only for teens whose mothers engaged in high levels of psychological control. Paternal psychological control demonstrated the same moderating effect for girls; for boys, however, high levels of paternal control predicted risky sex regardless of peer attitudes. Results are consistent with the theory that peer influences do not replace parental influences with regard to adolescent sexual behavior; rather, parental practices continue to serve an important role either directly forecasting sexual behavior or moderating the link between peer attitudes and sexual behavior.

The Cascading Development of Autonomy and Relatedness From Adolescence to Adulthood

“…Youth parented with greater psychological control at age 13 were significantly less likely to exhibit autonomy and relatedness during disagreements with romantic partners at age 18, and then remained significantly behind their counterparts in expressing autonomy and relatedness with romantic partners at age 21. Psychological control has long been theorized to undermine the development of autonomy and relatedness, and has been found to predict many markers of poor autonomy and relatedness skills, including hostility and susceptibility to peer pressure (Allen, Chango, Szwedo, Schad, & Marston, ; Allen et al., ; Barber, ; Oudekerk et al., ; Schaefer, ). Findings herein extend past research by identifying a direct, observable, and longitudinal connection between parent psychological control and decreasing ability over time to establish autonomy and relatedness with friends and romantic partners.…”

Emerging Adult Risky Sexual Behavior Predicted by Parental Overprotection: Moderated Mediation Analysis

“…Thus, parenting factors also may influence risky behaviors both directly and indirectly by affecting their children's peer clusters (McKinney, Milone, & Renk, ; Oetting et al., ). In particular, evidence has suggested parental control behaviors may influence peer selection (Oudekerk et al., ; Tilton‐Weaver, Burk, Kerr, & Stattin, ; Walters, ).…”

“…(), parental control behaviors, including monitoring and communicating disapproval, decreased the likelihood of selecting deviant peers and their influence on the adolescents. However, another study suggested parental control increased the influence that deviant peers had on the likelihood to engage in RSB (Neppl et al., ; Oudekerk et al., ). Specifically, peer attitudes on early sexual behavior exclusively predicted risky sexual behavior when parents exerted high levels of psychological control (Oudekerk et al., ).…”

“…However, another study suggested parental control increased the influence that deviant peers had on the likelihood to engage in RSB (Neppl et al, 2016;Oudekerk et al, 2014). Specifically, peer attitudes on early sexual behavior exclusively predicted risky sexual behavior when parents exerted high levels of psychological control (Oudekerk et al, 2014). Parental control may negatively impact peer influence on risky sexual behavior, but it may also act as a protective mechanism by impacting peer selection (Oudekerk et al, 2014).…”

“…Specifically, peer attitudes on early sexual behavior exclusively predicted risky sexual behavior when parents exerted high levels of psychological control (Oudekerk et al, 2014). Parental control may negatively impact peer influence on risky sexual behavior, but it may also act as a protective mechanism by impacting peer selection (Oudekerk et al, 2014). Furthermore, parental overprotection has been associated with higher likelihood of social anxiety and peer rejection, which is associated with decreased prosocial relationships (Ladd & Ladd, 1998;Spokas & Heimberg, 2009).…”