Sex differences in associations between parental behaviors and characteristics and adolescent social integration

One hundred and eight eighth grade students completed self-report questionn aires about their perceptions of parental warmth, structure, and psychologi cal autonomy granting (used to compute a measure of perceived parental auth oritativeness) and three measures of social integration. Their own connecte dness to their communities and involvement in school- versus community-base d extracurricular activities. Parents of these students participated in tel ephone interviews during which they reported on their own relationships wit h their children's friends and friends' parents, and their own involvement in community activities. Parental community involvement was associated with stronger feelings of community connectedness and higher levels of communit y involvement among boys and more involvement in school- and community-base d extracurricular activities among girls. Perceived parental authoritativen ess was associated with stronger feelings of community connectedness and hi gher levels of involvement in community activities among girls. Parents' re lationships with children's peers and peers' parents were associated with g reater involvement in school-based extracurricular activities among girls.