Predictors of Parental Locus of Control in Mothers of Pre- and Early Adolescents

Abstract

Parental locus of control refers to parents’ perceived power and efficacy in child-rearing situations. This study explored parental locus of control and its correlates in 160 mothers of children ages 8–14 cross-sectionally and 1 year later. Maternal depression, maternal expressed emotion, and child internalizing and externalizing behavior were examined, along with a number of sociodemographic factors. Cross-sectional analyses indicated that external parental locus of control was associated with child externalizing behavior, maternal depression, less maternal education, lower income, and older maternal age. Longitudinal analyses showed that child age and externalizing behavior also predicted increases in external parental locus of control 1 year later. Finally, lower income and less parental perceived control predicted increases in child externalizing behavior over time.

Substance Abuse and Parenting Among African American Mothers of Adolescents

“…Similar to previous research, the presence of externalizing behaviors in youth was negatively related to the mother's belief about her parenting ability (Freed & Thompson, 2011). However, externalizing behaviors did not maintain a significant relationship when stress and social support were also considered.…”

“…Shumow and Lomax (2002) found that parenting efficacy was associated with child age, socioeconomic status, and neighborhood qualities among mothers of adolescents. Freed and Tompson (2011) found that maternal age, income, education, and depression as well as youth externalizing behaviors were associated with maternal perceived power and efficacy in rearing their pre and early adolescents. Only one of these adolescent-focused studies (Shumow & Lomax, 2002) included a representative sampling of African Americans.…”

Maternal Age, Psychological Maturity, Parenting Cognitions, and Mother–Infant Interaction

“…However, previous studies have reported associations between parental personality and parental self‐efficacy (Bornstein, Hahn, & Haynes, ), and parental efficacy was found to mediate the relationship between parental personality traits and parenting behaviors (de Haan, Prinzie, & Dekovic, ). Freed and Tompson () examined correlates of parental locus of control in mothers aged 29–55 years with children aged 8–14 years and found older maternal age was associated with lower feelings of parenting control, while education contributed to greater parenting efficacy. These findings contradict the generally held view that older mothers are likely to be better educated and possess greater maturity, which may engender beliefs of having greater influence with respect to parenting (Bornstein & Putnick, ; Freed & Tompson, ).…”

Medication adherence in pediatric renal transplant patients: The role of family functioning and parent health locus of control

“…PHLOC, or parents’ appraisal of their control over their child's health outcomes, has also been found to contribute to adherence in pediatric populations, including epilepsy, sickle‐cell disease, and orthopedic conditions. Parents with high internal PHLOC ascribe their child's health outcomes to their own parenting efforts . However, parents who believe that their child's health is controlled by outside forces, including powerful others (eg, doctors, medical staff) and chance endorse high external PHLOC .…”

“…Parents with high internal PHLOC ascribe their child's health outcomes to their own parenting efforts . However, parents who believe that their child's health is controlled by outside forces, including powerful others (eg, doctors, medical staff) and chance endorse high external PHLOC . External PHLOC has been related to greater illness knowledge, which then predicted better adherence in pediatric epilepsy patients and better treatment outcomes for patients with pediatric overweight, likely due to a stronger patient‐physician relationship.…”