Conditional associations between parental behavior and adolescent problems: A search for personality-environment interactions

Personality-environment interactions figure prominently in theories of deve lopment and psychopathology, yet they have rarely been examined in empirica l work. In this study. parenting behaviors, five-factor model personality c haracteristics, and internalizing and externalizing problems were examined in a community sample of 14- to 21-year-olds (N = 402). A comprehensive swe ep of the multivariate space defined by the five-factor model revealed nume rous conditional effects for parental behavior in the prediction of problem s that varied depending on adolescent personality characteristics. The inte ractions occurred primarily for males and for aggression and delinquency. E xaminations of the interaction patterns provided preliminary answers to que stions about the relative frequency of problem-prone child personality type s, personality resiliency, and the varying effects of parental behavior. (C ) 2001 Academic Press.