Important Non-parental Adults and Positive Youth Development Across Mid- to Late-Adolescence: The Moderating Effect of Parenting Profiles

• NCJ Number: 247034
• Journal: Journal of Youth and Adolescence Volume: 43 Issue: 6 Dated: June 2014 Pages: 897-918
• Author(s): Edmond P. Bowers; Sara K. Johnson; Mary H. Buckingham; Santiago Gasca; Daniel J. A. Warren; Jacqueline V. Lerner; Richard M. Lerner
• Date Published: June 2014
• Length: 22 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study assessed the relationships among youth-reported parenting profiles and important non-parental adult relationships in predicting the Five Cs of PYD (competence, confidence, connection, character, and caring) in four cross-sectional waves of data from the 4-H Study of PYD (Grade 9: N = 975, 61.1 percent female; Grade 10: N = 1,855, 63.4 percent female; Grade 11: N = 983, 67.9 percent female; Grade 12: N = 703, 69.3 percent female).

Abstract

Both parents and important non-parental adults have influential roles in promoting positive youth development (PYD). Little research, however, has examined the simultaneous effects of both parents and important non-parental adults for PYD. This authors assessed the relationships among youth-reported parenting profiles and important non-parental adult relationships in predicting the Five Cs of PYD (competence, confidence, connection, character, and caring) in four cross-sectional waves of data from the 4-H Study of PYD (Grade 9: N = 975, 61.1 percent female; Grade 10: N = 1,855, 63.4 percent female; Grade 11: N = 983, 67.9 percent female; Grade 12: N = 703, 69.3 percent female). The results indicated the existence of latent profiles of youth-reported parenting styles based on maternal warmth, parental school involvement, and parental monitoring that were consistent with previously identified profiles (authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, and uninvolved) as well as reflecting several novel profiles (highly involved, integrative, school-focused, controlling). Parenting profile membership predicted mean differences in the Five Cs at each wave, and also moderated the relationships between the presence of an important non-parental adult and the Five Cs. In general, authoritative and highly involved parenting predicted higher levels of PYD and a higher likelihood of being connected to an important non-parental adult. The authors discuss the implications of these findings for future research on adult influences of youth development and for programs that involve adults in attempts to promote PYD. Abstract published by arrangement with Springer.