NCJ Number
209619
Journal
Journal of Youth and Adolescence Volume: 34 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2005 Pages: 137-148
Date Published
April 2005
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study examined the longitudinal contribution of secrecy from parents to psychosocial and behavioral problems in adolescence.
Abstract
Secrecy is a common social phenomenon. However, secrecy is regarded by psychologists as a dangerous undertaking which is stressful and burdensome. This study built on previous findings on the consequences of secrecy in adolescence. The study attempts to provide further evidence of psychosocial disadvantages of secrecy in adolescence, extend the knowledge base of secrecy’s behavioral problems, investigate secrecy’s possible contribution to adolescent development by examining its relation to feelings of self-control, and investigate the predictive power of secrecy from parents by examining its advantages and disadvantages longitudinally. Data were derived from a large-scale longitudinal survey among 10- to 14-year-old adolescents in the Netherlands. A total of 602 female and male adolescents participated in the study. The results indicate that keeping secrets from parents is associated with psychological disadvantages in adolescence, contributing to low self-esteem, depressive mood, and stress both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. In addition, secrecy from parents is associated with behavioral problems, as it contributes to aggression and delinquency both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Secrecy from parents also showed strong cross-sectional and longitudinal associations with self-control. Overall, the findings suggest that secrecy is quite deserving of its reputation, even more so in adolescence. Study limitations are presented and discussed. References