CONTEXTUAL, COGNITIVE, AND ADOLESCENT FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH PARENTING IN ADOLESCENCE

In this study, we examined predictors of parenting during adolescence from three domains: the contextual (i.e., stress, support, marital sat isfaction), social-cognitive (i.e., beliefs about adolescence), and ch ild (difficulty). Fifty-three mothers and 38 fathers of 13-18 year old s were interviewed and rated on three dimensions of parenting-involvem ent, autonomy support, and structure. Parents completed questionnaires assessing predictor variables. Results indicated that, for mothers, h igher numbers of recent stressful events were associated with less pro vision of structure and more control. For fathers, relations between v iews of adolescence and parenting were in evidence; while for both mot hers and fathers strong relations between adolescent difficulty and pa renting emerged. Relations between perceived difficulty of adolescent and parenting were more apparent in ''conducive'' than ''nonconducive' ' contexts. The differential results for mothers and fathers are inter preted in terms of mothers' greater involvement and less role latitude than fathers. Parents' resources, experience, and expectations are co nsidered in understanding why predictors might be associated with pare nting variables.