Parental protective influences and gender-specific increases in adolescentinternalizing and externalizing problems

This investigation examined gender differences in growth rates of externali zing and internalizing problems over a 5-year period, from early to late ad olescence. It also examined the role of parental warmth, low hostility, and child management practices in inhibiting the growth trajectories of these developmental problems. Specifically, parenting was hypothesized to exhibit either a compensatory or buffering effect on age-related increases in adol escent internalizing and externalizing problems. Data were collected annual ly from 319 mothers, fathers, and their adolescent children (168 girls, 151 boys). The results demonstrated significant gender differences in growth t rajectories of externalizing and internalizing problems. Both the compensat ory and buffering hypotheses were supported with regard to externalizing pr oblems. A compensatory effect of parenting practices on levels of internali zing problems also was demonstrated.