Transitioning to adolescence: How changes in child personality and overreactive parenting predict adolescent adjustment problems

• Published in: Development and psychopathology Vol. 22; no. 1; pp. 151 - 163
• Main Authors: van den Akker, Alithe L., Deković, Maja, Prinzie, Peter
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, USA Cambridge University Press 01.02.2010
• Subjects: Adjustment; Adolescent; Adolescent Development - physiology; Adolescents; Behavior; Chi-Square Distribution; Child & adolescent psychiatry; Child development; Children; Children & youth; Emotions; Emotions - physiology; Female; Humans; Male; Mental task performance; Parent-Child Relations; Parenting - psychology; Parents & parenting; Personality; Personality - physiology; Personality Inventory; Personality traits; Social Adjustment; Social psychology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Teenagers
• ISSN: 0954-5794; 1469-2198
• DOI: 10.1017/S0954579409990320

The present study examined how changes in child Big Five personality characteristics and overreactive parenting during the transition from childhood to adolescence predict adolescent adjustment problems. The sample included 290 children, aged 8–9 years. At three moments, with 2-year intervals, mothers, fathers, and a teacher reported on the child's personality, and mothers and fathers reported on their parenting behavior. At the third measurement moment, mothers, fathers, and children reported on the child's adjustment problems. Rank-order stability of the personality dimensions and overreactive parenting were high. Univariate latent growth models revealed mean-level decreases for extraversion, conscientiousness, and imagination. Mean levels of benevolence, emotional stability, and overreactive parenting were stable. Multivariate latent growth models revealed that decreases in extraversion and emotional stability predicted internalizing problems, whereas decreases in benevolence, conscientiousness, and emotional stability predicted externalizing problems. Increases in overreactive parenting predicted externalizing, but not internalizing problems. The associations were similar for boys and girls. The results indicate that changes in child personality and overreactive parenting during the transition to adolescence are associated with adolescent adjustment problems. Overall, child personality was more important than overreactive parenting, and children were more likely to “act out” than to “withdraw” in reaction to overreactive parenting.