The relationship of psychological and behavioral control with adolescents' behavioral problems: How appraisals of parental control can explain this relationship?

The goal of the present study was to investigate the mechanisms underlying the association between parental control and adolescent problem behaviors. More specifically, it was aimed to explore (1) the mediating role of adolescents' cognitive and affective appraisals of psychological and behavioral control in this relationship, (2) the moderating role of maternal warmth, adolescent temperament, and adolescents' perceived legitimacy of psychological and behavioral control in the mediating relationships, and (3) whether the pattern of relationships differs as a function of adolescent gender. The sample consisted of 689 7th, 8th, and 9th grade adolescents (Mage = 13.95; SD = .94; 59.7 % girls) and their mothers living in Ankara. Both adolescents and mothers reported on psychological and behavioral control, maternal warmth, and adolescent internalizing and externalizing problems. Adolescents also reported on appraisals of psychological and behavioral control and perceived legitimacy regarding both type of control. Results revealed that appraisals of psychological control partially mediated the relationship between psychological control and internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Moreover, it was demonstrated that perceived maternal warmth and legitimacy of psychological control, but not adolescent negative affect, moderated this relationship. In addition, it was found that appraisals of behavioral control fully mediated the relationship between behavioral control and internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Maternal warmth, adolescent temperament and legitimacy of behavioral control did not moderate this relationship. The pattern of relationships did not change among girls and boys. Taken together, these findings indicate that higher psychological control leads to more negative appraisals, which in turn, results in problem behaviors. Furthermore, results suggest that adolescents who have higher perceptions of maternal warmth or perceive related behaviors as more legitimate are more sensitive to the increase in psychological control. In addition, findings imply that higher behavioral control is interpreted less negatively, and effective at preventing problem behaviors. Findings were discussed based on relevant research and theories.