Theory for how parental monitoring changes youth behavior

Pelham, William E.

doi:10.31234/osf.io/e63mb

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 109 publications

(177 reference statements)

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“…A recent systematic review de nes Parental Monitoring as "the set of all behaviors performed by a caregiver to gather information about youths' activities and life" (Pelham et al, 2023), while Parental Supervision suggests the parent is present and directly watching their child engage in a given activity (Racz & McMahon, 2011). Both Parental Monitoring and Supervision have been found to play an important role in reducing deviant, risk-taking behaviors in youth.…”

Section: Parenting Behaviorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining parenting behaviors as predictors of fine-grained dimensions of externalizing psychopathology in youth

Karlovich,

Evans

2024

Preprint

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Although the associations between specific dimensions of parenting behaviors (e.g., inconsistent discipline, poor monitoring/supervision, positive parenting) and youth externalizing problems are well-studied, externalizing constructs have often been measured broadly, imprecisely, or inconsistently. To clarify this picture, we examined the links between parenting behaviors and fine-grained dimensions of externalizing-spectrum problems. Caregiver-report survey data were collected for 576 youths ages 6-14. Path models revealed that poor monitoring/supervision and inconsistent discipline emerged as robust, independent predictors of all seven types of externalizing variables examined; however, the effects of positive parenting were attenuated to non-significance in combined models. These results held when controlling for, and were not moderated by, demographic variables (parent/child age/gender). Findings underscore the importance of parents’ inconsistent discipline and poor monitoring/supervision in accounting for child externalizing problems, while also revealing the consistency of associations with various externalizing-spectrum problems (e.g., irritability, aggression, ODD, ADHD). Replication using multiple methods and informants is needed.

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Section: Parenting Behaviorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining parenting behaviors as predictors of fine-grained dimensions of externalizing psychopathology in youth

Karlovich,

Evans

2024

Preprint

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“…The choice of a trait versus state conceptualization of monitoring has implications for the question of how parental monitoring exerts its salutary effects on youth behavior. Many mediating mechanisms have been proposed, though none has been rigorously demonstrated (Pelham III, Patel, Somers, & Racz, 2023). Previous proposals include that monitoring reduces the youth's selection into deviant peer groups (Kiesner, Poulin, & Dishion, 2010), strengthens the youth's relationship with the parent (Hamza & Willoughby, 2011), strengthens the youth's capacity for self-control (Unnever, Cullen, & Pratt, 2003), or increases the youths anticipated likelihood of being caught and disciplined for rule-breaking behavior (Patterson & Stouthamer-Loeber, 1984).…”

Section: Designing Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

State versus trait conceptualizations of parental monitoring: a formulation and review

Pelham¹

2023

Preprint

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We propose and evaluate two competing conceptualizations of parental monitoring of youths’ activities—a trait conceptualization and a state conceptualization. In a trait conceptualization, the level of monitoring is largely stable over time within families and youth behavior at any given moment is affected by the overall level of monitoring over a long period (e.g., past few months, past year). In a state conceptualization, the level of monitoring varies substantially from moment-to-moment and youth behavior at any given moment is affected by the current, acute level of monitoring. The trait and state conceptualizations have contrasting implications for designing research, identifying causal mechanisms, intervening with families to improve monitoring, and anticipating how youth will respond to temporary changes in the level of monitoring. Reviewing the literature, we find that most prior research has implicitly adopted the trait conceptualization, despite there being little theoretical analysis or empirical evidence to justify the choice of one conceptualization over the other. No study has reported on the day-to- day stability of monitoring, though a handful have reported low day-to-day stability for closely related constructs (e.g., parental knowledge). Too few studies have tested shorter-term or acute effects of monitoring to make strong conclusions about the timescale of effects, though available evidence suggests there is no effect of overall monitoring measured today on youth outcomes measured 6-12 months later. We conclude that whether monitoring is best conceptualized as a trait or state remains an important open question.

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“…setting a rule against staying out past 10 o'clock at night), to keep their youth in safe settings (Dishion & McMahon, 1998). Additionally, if a parent monitors often, the youth may be less inclined to engage in behaviors (e.g., impulsivity and substance use) that may place them in risky situations where they could be exposed to PTEs (e.g., Khetarpal et al, 2022;Pelham III et al, 2024;Robertson et al, 2008). Parental knowledge about the youth's behaviors, social circle, and environment may enable the parent to effectively guide and inform their youth's judgment about not entering risky situations (Khetarpal et al, 2022).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parental Monitoring, Parental Knowledge, and the Occurrence of Potentially Traumatic Events in Adolescence

Aks,

Patel,

Davis

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Parental monitoring and knowledge of their teens’ activities might enable parents to keep teens safe, reducing the risk of potentially traumatic events. This paper investigated that possibility using a large, nationwide sample of 11,880 teens followed longitudinally from ages 10-11 to 13-14 years old. At annual assessments, teens completed measures of parental monitoring/knowledge and of potentially traumatic events. Data were analyzed using multilevel models to separate between- and within-family associations. Because within-family associations cannot be explained by the many systematic differences between families with low vs. high monitoring, they comprise more rigorous evidence of a potential causal relationship. We tested both concurrent associations between monitoring/knowledge and PTEs and prospective associations over 12 months. At the between-family level, every tested association was significant (p<.001): greater monitoring/knowledge predicted fewer PTEs. However, at the within-family level, few associations were significant. Greater knowledge (p=0.01) or combined monitoring and knowledge (p=0.005) predicted fewer PTEs concurrently, but greater monitoring alone did not (p=0.14). No prospective within-family associations were statistically significant. We replicated this pattern of findings in a different set of observations from the same sample, using different measures of each construct. We conclude that most of the apparent association between parental monitoring/knowledge and PTEs is explained by confounding factors, rather than a causal relationship. However, we found some evidence supporting a causal link in models of concurrent associations, suggesting any causal relationship between monitoring/knowledge and PTEs may unfold over shorter timescales.

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Theory for how parental monitoring changes youth behavior

Cited by 5 publications

References 109 publications

Examining parenting behaviors as predictors of fine-grained dimensions of externalizing psychopathology in youth

Examining parenting behaviors as predictors of fine-grained dimensions of externalizing psychopathology in youth

State versus trait conceptualizations of parental monitoring: a formulation and review

Parental Monitoring, Parental Knowledge, and the Occurrence of Potentially Traumatic Events in Adolescence

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