Maternal Conforming Values and Adolescent Psychosocial Adjustment

Nell N. Manning, Joseph P. Allen, Ph.D. University of Virginia Kathleen B. McElhaney, Ph.D. Davidson College Collaborators: Christy McFarland Jill Antonishak, Ph.D.

Jessica Meyer Maryfrances Porter, Ph.D.

Mindy Schmidt Rosenbaum, Ph.D.

Penny Marsh Farah Williams Amanda Hare Wrenn Thompson Jennifer Haynes Joanna Chango Claire Stephenson Katherine Little Erin Miga Martin Ho

We know that . . .

 Development of autonomy is a key task of adolescence

We know that . . .

 Development of autonomy is a key task of adolescence  Doing this within a context of close relationships is also important

We know that . . .

 Development of autonomy is a key task of adolescence  Doing this within a context of close relationships is also important  Parents who can’t handle the demands placed on them by their adolescents’ development of autonomy are set up to struggle

What parent

orientations

or

values

are linked, positively or negatively, to autonomy and relatedness processes in adolescence?

Conforming Values

politeness, obedience, neatness, conventional success

Conformity

(M.L. Kohn,1963,1977)

Conforming Values

politeness, obedience, neatness, conventional success

Conformity

vs.

independence, curiosity, initiative, kindness

Self-direction Social relationships

(M.L. Kohn,1963,1977)

Conforming Values

politeness, obedience, neatness, conventional success

Conformity

vs.

independence, curiosity, initiative, kindness

Self-direction Social relationships

(M.L. Kohn,1963,1977) Conforming values linked to low socioeconomic status

Conforming Values, Autonomy, and Relatedness

Autonomy

 Valuing conformity suggests a

lack

of valuing autonomy   Links to authoritarian parenting beliefs and behaviors Links to lower levels of creativity and curiosity (Kohn, 1963, 1977; Schaefer and Edgerton, 1985; Luster, Rhoades, & Haas, 1989; Wright & Wright, 1976)

Relatedness

  Focused on standards of group and culture Less alert to adolescent’s unique concerns, experiences, and needs  More judgmental

Links to other psychological constructs



Valuing of conformity = rigid emotional stance

  Conformist stage of ego development (Loevinger, 1976) Kohlberg’s conventional moral reasoning (Kohlberg, 1968)  Ego brittleness (vs. ego resiliency) (Block, 2002; 1989; Block & Kremens, 1996)  Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (Oltmanns, Melley, & Turkheimer, 2002)

Questions

Is maternal valuing of conformity linked to adolescents’ autonomy and relatedness in their:

   Relationships with mothers?

Relationships with friends?

Intrapsychic development?

University of Virginia

Kids, Lives, Friends, and Families “Kliff” Project

 184 adolescents, their parents, and best friends  Equal numbers of males and females  Assessed first at age 13, next at age 14, and again at age 16  Socio-economically diverse (median family income= $40-$60K)  58% Caucasian; 29% African-American; 13% other or mixed ethnic groups  Intensive interviews and observations with all parties

Assessment of Maternal Conforming Values



Parenting Values Questionnaire

Kohn, 1977) (Schaefer & Edgerton, 1985;  Mothers are required to rank in order of importance a list of commonly desired behaviors for their adolescents.  The

valuing of conformity scale

“I hope my adolescent will . . .    includes items such as, . . . have good manners.” . . . keep him or herself neat and clean.” . . . obey parents and teachers.”  Higher scores represent a greater valuing of conformity

Are maternal conforming values related to autonomy processes in mother-teen relationship and interaction patterns?

Mother-teen relationship patterns: measures

 

Mothers’ undermining of adolescent autonomy Adolescents’ positive relatedness with mother

  Observational assessments of videotaped interactions

Autonomy & Relatedness Coding System

(Allen, et al., 1998) 

Mother’s supportive attention to teen

 Observational assessment of videotaped interactions 

Supportive Behavior Task Coding System

(Allen et al., 1999) 

Mother’s psychological control



Childhood Report of Parental Behavior Inventory

1965) (Schaefer, 

Mother-teen total conflict



Parent-Child Conflict Questionnaire (Hetherington & Clingempeel,1992)

Mothers’ observed inhibition of teen autonomy

Gender (1=M; 2=F) Family Income Statistics for step

Mother’s self-reported psychological control Mother’s teen-reported psychological control Mother’s undermining of teen’s autonomy

Statistics for step Maternal Valuing of Conformity  β  

R

2 Total

R 2

.14* -.37*** .317*** .317***

.14* .22** .17* .114*** .431*** Mothers with more conforming values are more likely to inhibit their teens’ displays of autonomy.

Mothers’ observed supportive attention to teen

Gender (1=M; 2=F) Family Income Statistics for step

Mother’s observed supportive attention for teen

β Maternal Valuing of Conformity entry  β final  

R

2 Total

R 2

.16* -.51*** .19 -.42*** .308*** .308***

-.21** -.21** .038** .346***

Note. *** p < .001. ** p ≤ .01. * p < .05.

Mothers with more conforming values are less attentive to and supportive of their teens as individuals.

Teens’ observed relatedness with their mothers

Gender (1=M; 2=F) Family Income Statistics for step

Teen’s observed positive relatedness with mother

Note. *** p < .001. ** p ≤ .01. * p < .05. β Maternal Valuing of Conformity entry  β final  

R

2 Total

R 2

.13 -.53*** .13 -.48*** .312*** .312***

-.20** -.20** .039** .351*** Adolescents of more conforming mothers are less likely to be positively connected and related to their mothers.

Mother-child conflict over time

Mother-adolescent conflict at teen age 13 Gender (1=M; 2=F) Family Income Statistics for step

Mother’s conforming values at teen age 13 Mother-Teen Conflict at Teen Age 16

β entry  β final  

R

2 Total

R 2

.50*** .45*** .25*** .25*** -.06 -.05

.20*

-.09 .03

.20*

.01

.02*

.26***

.28*** Mothers who value conformity are more likely to report an increase in conflict with their adolescents over time.

 Mothers who value conformity in their adolescents more highly are more likely to:  Undermine their teens’ autonomy    Pay less attention to their teens as individuals Have teens who are less positively related with them Experience greater increase in conflict with their teens over time

Are maternal conforming values related to intrapsychic markers of adolescent autonomy and relatedness?

Intrapsychic markers of adolescent autonomy and relatedness: measures



Adolescent attachment security



Adult Attachment Interview

(Main & Goldwyn, 1998) and

AAI Q-set

(Kobak et al., 1993) 

Adolescent ego development



Sentence Completion Task

(Hy & Loevinger, 1996)

Teen intrapsychic development: attachment security

Gender (1=M; 2=F) Family Income Statistics for step

Adolescent attachment security

β .13 Maternal Valuing of Conformity entry -.53***  final β .17* -.43***  

R

2 .315*** Total

R 2

.315***

-.24*** .051*** .355***

Teen intrapsychic development: ego development

Gender (1=M; 2=F) Family Income Statistics for step

Adolescent attachment security Adolescent’s ego development

β Maternal Valuing of Conformity entry  β final  

R

2 Total

R 2

.13 -.53*** .17* -.43*** .315*** .315***

-.24*** -.15* -.21** -.21** .051*** .355*** .036** .391** Mothers who value conformity are less likely to have teens who are secure or mature.

Are maternal conforming values related to teens’ autonomy and relatedness with their peers?

Maternal conforming values and autonomy and relatedness with peers: measures

 

Adolescents’ display of autonomy with best friend Adolescents’ confidence with best friend

 Observational assessments of videotaped interactions 

Autonomy and Relatedness Coding System for Peer Interactions

(Allen, Porter, & McFarland, 2003) 

Popularity

 Sociometric nominations received from same-age peers (Coie, 1982) 

Friendship competency



Harter Self-Perception Profile:

and again at age 16 rated by best friend when teen was 13

Teens’ observed autonomy with best friend

Gender (1=M; 2=F) Family Income Statistics for step

Observed adolescent autonomy displayed with close friend, age 13

β

Maternal Valuing of Conformity

entry  β final  

R

2 Total

R 2

.14* -.53***

-.21**

.13* -.48***

-.21**

.314***

.041**

.314***

.355*** Adolescents of more conformity-valuing mothers are less likely to display autonomy with their friends.

Relative decrease in teen-peer autonomy over next year? Trend only (p<.06)

Teens’ observed confidence with peers over time

Adolescent’s observed confidence at age 13 Gender (1=M; 2=F) Family Income Statistics for step

Maternal conforming values at teens’ age 13 Adolescent’s Observed Confidence at Age

β entry .29***  β final .23**

14

 

R

2 .081*** Total

R 2

.081*** .07 .10

-.28**

.10 -.05

-.28**

.013

.052**

.095**

.146*** Adolescents of mothers with more conforming values show a greater loss of confidence from age 13 to 14 when interacting with their peers.

Teens’ friendship competence over time

Adolescent’s close friendship competence at age 13 Gender (1=M; 2=F) Family Income Statistics for step

Maternal conforming values at teens’ age 13

β entry .10

Adolescent’s Close Friendship Competency at Age 16

 β final  

R

2 Total

R 2

.04 .009 .009 .17 .12 .22* -.06 .041 .050

-.32** -.32** .07** .12** Adolescents of mothers with more conforming values show a relative loss of competence in friendship from age 13 to 16.

Teen popularity

Gender (1=M; 2=F) Family Income Statistics for step

Adolescent popularity (# like rankings)

β entry .13*

Maternal Valuing of Conformity

 β final .15*  

R

2 Total

R 2

-.53***

-.17*

-.48***

-.17*

.311***

.025*

.311***

.336*** Maternal valuing of conformity is negatively related to teens’ popularity with school-aged peers.

Adolescents whose mothers have more conforming values are likely to:

     Have lower levels of attachment security and ego development Display lower levels of autonomy in interaction with their friends Show greater decreases in confidence displayed with friends from age 13-14 Show greater decreases in friend-rated friendship competence from age 13 to 16 Be less popular with their peers

Conclusions



Maternal conforming values are linked to:

   less teen autonomy with mothers and friends less teen relatedness with mothers and friends less secure and mature intrapsychic development 

Like maternal behaviors, general values are important.



Whence conforming values?

Limitations

 Causality is not implied by any of these data; all are correlational.

 Parenting values do not always compete or conflict with each other.

 Data on fathers also needs to be examined.

 Longer longitudinal patterns of interactions should be examined.

Acknowledgements

 I would like to thank the National Institute of Mental Health for funding provided to Joseph Allen, Principal Investigator, for the conduct and write-up of this study.

 A copy of this paper and other publications on related topics is available at www.teenresearch.org

.

 Address correspondence to: Nell N. Manning University of Virginia, Dept. of Psychology P.O. Box 400400 Charlottesville, VA 22904 [email protected]

www.teenresearch.org