Family correlates of adolescent self-monitoring and social competence

The purpose of this study was to investigate linkages between adolescent se lf-monitoring, global social competence, and parenting and family environme nt dimensions of support and encouragement of autonomy. The sample consiste d of 233 young women and 199 young men at 2 southwestern universities. The primary measures used were the Family Environment Scale (R. H. Moos, 1981), the Parent Behavior Form CL. Worell & J. Worell, 1974), the revised Self-M onitoring Scale (M. Snyder, 1987), and the Texas Social Behavior Inventory (R. Helmreich, J. Stapp, & C. Ervin, 1974). Findings indicated that family variables are more strongly associated with social competence than with sel f-monitoring; family support was, overall, a more important ingredient of s ocial competence than was autonomy. Women and men had different patterns of associations among specific variables.