Does Harsh Parenting Contribute to Adolescents' Risky Behaviors?

J. Anderson, M. Faulhaber, K. Coleman, M. Hoger, L. Phommatha, S. Prot PhD., C. A. Anderson PhD.

Iowa State University

- Investigate correlation between parent rule-setting, parental

mediation of media use, and parenting styles

- Longitudinal cross-cultural studies would be of interest regarding different cultures and different parenting styles

Future Work

Figure 2. Correlation table examining harsh parenting correlating with substance abuse, risky sexual behavior, and antisocial behavior in a sample of 549 college students.

Results

- Past research has demonstrated that parenting practices significantly influence children's risk behaviors (Griffin et al., 2000; Huesmann et al.,1984; Kotchick et al., 2001).

- Harsh parenting is key risk factor for aggressive behavior among children (Bailey et al., 2009; Eron, Huesmann & Zelli, 1991; Lefkowitz, Eron & Huesmann, 1978).

- Our study extends previous work by examining harsh parenting as a possible risk factor of three different types of risk behaviors:

- Substance Abuse - Risky Sexual Behavior - Antisocial Behavior

- Harsh Parenting is defined as physical and/or verbal forms of discipline, including angry/over-reactive parental behavior (Gershoff, 2008)

- Hypothesis: We hypothesized that harsh parenting would be

associated with more antisocial behavior, substance abuse and risky sexual behavior among adolescents

and young adults.

Griffin et al 2000, Huesmann et al 1984 Kotchick et al 2001 Bailey et al 2009 Eron, Huesmann & Zelli Gershoff, 2008 Meunier & Roskam 2007 Udovicic et al 2007 Eron et al 1991 Aggression: A social learning analysis. Bandura, Albert 1973

References

Participants: A sample of 549 college students (49% male, mean age 19.55 years, SD = 1.83) completed a survey.

Procedure: • A cross-sectional correlational design was employed. • Completed the harsh parenting subscale of the

Parental Behavior Scale (Meunier & Roskam, 2007), The Risk Behaviors Scale (Udovicic et al., 2007) and demographics (sex, age, race, religious affiliation, political orientation, GPA).

• Parental Behavior Scale: Consists of items expressing parental behavior

Items are designed to nine sub-scales: Positive parenting, Monitoring, Rules, Discipline, Inconsistent discipline, Harsh punishment, Ignoring, Material rewarding, and Autonomy

- Harsh parenting served as a predictor of substance abuse, risky sexual behavior, and antisocial behavior of adolescents

- Observational learning theory can be used as a possible explanation for adolescents expressing aggressive and antisocial behaviors (Bandura, 1973)

Possible limitations: - Self-report could vary based on surveyed youth about perceptions

of parenting

Discussion Introduction

Methods

For questions or comments, please contact Dr Sara Prot at ac2215@coventry.ac.uk

- Our results are consistent with studies showing that harsh

parenting predicts aggressive and antisocial behaviors in adolescents and youth (Eron et al, 1991).

- Furthermore, these findings suggest that harsh parenting also

contributes to other types of risk behaviors (substance use and risky sexual behaviors).

Conclusion

Harsh Parenting is associated with: - Drunk driving (r = 0.11, p < 0.01) - Having sex with a stranger (r = 0.20, p < 0.01), - Taking sedatives without a doctor’s prescription (r = 0.14, p < 0.01) - Vomiting or using laxatives to lose weight (r = 0.10, p < 0.05) - Destruction of property (r = 0.23, p < 0.01) - Carrying a gun (r = 0.17, p < 0.01) - Hitting a parent (r = 0.18, p < 0.01)

- Hitting other students (r = 0.25, p < 0.01)