Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The Relationship among Paternal and Maternal Psychological Control, Self-Esteem, and Indecisiveness across Adolescent Genders

  • Published:
Current Psychology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among adolescents’ indecisiveness, adolescents’ self-esteem, and maternal and paternal psychological control by focusing on the differences in the relationship among these variables across adolescent genders. A total of 381 Italian adolescents (215 boys and 166 girls), aged from 13 to 17 years, completed self-report measures of parental psychological control, self-esteem and indecisiveness. Since previous studies have highlighted indirect relations between family characteristics and indecisiveness, structural equation modeling (SEM) methods were used for testing self-esteem as a possible mediator. In particular, a multiple group analysis (based on adolescent genders) was conducted to determine if the resultant model differed for boys and girls. The results showed that self-esteem acted as mediator of the relation between paternal psychological control and boys’ indecisiveness. Moreover, this study shows how maternal and paternal psychological control is differently related to children’s development during early adolescence, emphasizing the important relationship between paternal psychological control and boys’ indecisiveness.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allen, J. P., Hauser, S. T., Bell, K. L., & O’Connor, T. G. (1994). Longitudinal assessment of autonomy and relatedness in adolescent-family interactions as predictors of adolescent ego development and self-esteem. Child Development, 65(1), 179–194. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.1994.tb00743.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Arbuckle, J. L. (1997). Amos Users’ Guide Version 3.6. Chicago: Small Waters Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bacanli, F. (2006). Personality characteristics as predictors of personal indecisiveness. Journal of Career Development, 32(4), 320–332. doi:10.1177/0894845305282941.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bacanli, F. (2012). An examination of the relationship amongst decision-making strategies and ego identity statuses. Eğitim ve Bilim, 37(163), 17–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bámaca, M. Y., Umaña-Taylor, A. J., Shin, N., & Alfaro, E. C. (2005). Latino adolescents’ perception of parenting behaviors and self-esteem: examining the role of neighborhood risk. Family Relations, 54(5), 621–632. doi:10.1111/j.1741-3729.2005.00346.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barber, B. K. (1996). Parental psychological control: revisiting a neglected construct. Child Development, 67, 3296–3319. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.1996.tb01915.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barber, B. K., & Harmon, E. L. (2002). Violating the self: Parental psychological control of children and adolescents. In B. K. Barber (Ed.), Intrusive parenting: how psychological control affects children and adolescents (pp. 15–52). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Bean, R. A., & Northrup, J. C. (2009). Parental psychological control, psychological autonomy and acceptance as predictors of self-esteem in Latino adolescents. Journal of Family Issues, 30, 1486–1504. doi:10.1177/0192513X09339149.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beswick, G., Rothblum, E. D., & Mann, L. (1988). Psychological antecedents to students procrastination. Australian Psychologist, 23, 207–217.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blustein, D. L., Walbridge, M. M., Friedlander, M. L., & Palladino, D. E. (1991). Contributions of psychological separation and parental attachment to the career development process. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 38(1), 39–50. doi:10.1037/0022-0167.38.1.39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bronstein, P. (1988). Father-child interactions: Implications for gender-role socialization. In P. Bronstein & C. Cowan (Eds.), Fatherhood today (pp. 107–123). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burka, J. B., & Yuen, L. M. (1983). Procrastination: Why do it and what to do about it. Reading: Addison-Wesley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Byrne, B. M. (2001). Structural equation modeling with AMOS: Basic concepts, applications, and programming (pp. 79–88). Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cacioppo, M., Pace, U., & Zappulla, C. (2012). Parental psychological control, quality of family context and life satisfaction among Italian adolescents. Child Indicators Research, 6, 179–191. doi:10.1007/s12187-012-9164-4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cantor, N., & Sanderson, C. A. (1998). The functional regulation of adolescent dating relationships and sexual behavior: An interaction of goals, strategies, and situations. In J. Heckhausen & C. S. Dweck (Eds.), Motivation and self-regulation across the life span (pp. 185–215). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Caprara, G. V., Pastorelli, C., Regalia, C., Scabini, E., & Bandura, A. (2005). Impact of adolescents’ filial self-efficacy on quality of family functioning and satisfaction. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 15, 71–97. doi:10.1111/j.1532-7795.2005.00087.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cenkseven-Onder, F. (2012). The influence of decision-making styles on early adolescents’ life satisfaction. Social Behavior and Personality: An International Journal, 40(9), 1523–1536.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chartrand, J. M., Robbins, S. B., Morrill, W. H., & Boggs, K. (1990). The development and validation of the career factors inventory. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 37, 490–501.

    Google Scholar 

  • Collins, W. A., & Laursen, B. (2004). Parent–adolescent relationships and influences. In R. M. Lerner & L. Steinberg (Eds.), Handbook of adolescent psychology (2nd ed., pp. 331–361). Hoboken: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deroma, V. M., Lassiter, K. S., & Davis, V. A. (2004). Adolescent involvement in discipline decision making. Behavior Modification, 28(3), 420–437. doi:10.1177/0145445503258993.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Di Fabio, A. (2006). Decisional procrastination correlates: personality traits, self-esteem or perception of cognitive failure? International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance, 6, 109–122. doi:10.1007/s10775-006-9000-9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Di Fabio, A., & Palazzeschi, L. (2012). Incremental variance of the core self-evaluation construct compared to fluid intelligence and personality traits in aspects of decision-making. Personality and Individual Differences, 53, 196–201.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Di Maggio, R., & Zappulla, C. (2013). Mothering, fathering, and Italian adolescents’ problem behaviors and life satisfaction: dimensional and typological approach. Journal of Child and Family Studies. doi:10.1007/s10826-013-9721-6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feldman, D. C. (2003). The antecedents and consequences of early career indecision among young adults. Human Resource Management Review, 13, 499–531. doi:10.1016/S1053-4822(03)00048-2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferrari, J. R. (1992). Procrastinators and perfect behavior: an exploratory factor analysis of self-presentation, selfawareness, and self-handicapping components. Journal of Research in Personality, 26, 75–84. doi:10.1002/per.413.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferrari, J. R. (2000). Procrastination and attention: Factor analysis of attention deficit, boredomness, intelligence, self-esteem and task delay frequencies. Journal of Social Behavior and Personality, 15, 185–196.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferrari, J. R., & Dovidio, J. F. (2001). Behavioral information search by indecisives. Personality and Individual Differences, 30, 1113–1123. doi:10.1016/S0191-8869(00)00094-5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferrari, J. R., & Olivette, M. J. (1993). Perceptions of parental control and the development of indecision among late adolescent females. Adolescence, 28, 963–970.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Flett, G. L., Hewitt, P. L., & Martin, T. R. (1995). Dimensions of perfectionism and procrastination. In J. R. Ferrari, J. L. Johnson, & W. G. McCown (Eds.), Procrastination and task avoidance: Theory, research and treatment (pp. 113–136). New York: Plenum Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Frost, R. O., & Shows, D. L. (1993). The nature and measurement of compulsive indecisiveness. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 31, 683–692. doi:10.1016/0005-7967(93)90121-A.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Galambos, N. L., Almeida, D. M., & Petersen, A. C. (1990). Masculinity, femininity, and sex role attitudes in early adolescence: exploring gender intensification. Child Development, 61, 1905–1914. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.1990.tb03574.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Germeijs, V., & De Boeck, P. (2002). A measurement scale for indecisiveness and its relationship to career indecision and other types of indecision. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 18(2), 113–122. doi:10.1027//1015-5759.18.2.113.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Germeijs, V., & Verschueren, K. (2011). Indecisiveness and big five personality factors: relationship and specificity. Personality and Individual Differences, 50, 1023–1028. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2011.01.017.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Germeijs, V., Verschueren, K., & Soenens, B. (2006). Indecisiveness and high school students’ career decision-making process: longitudinal associations and the mediational role of anxiety. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 53, 397–410. doi:10.1037/00220167.53.4.397.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guay, F., Senécal, C., Gauthier, L., & Fernet, C. (2003). Predicting career indecision: a self-determination theory perspective. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 50(2), 165–177. doi:10.1037/0022-0167.50.2.165.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Güçray, S. S. (2005). A study of the decision-making behaviours of Turkish adolescents. Pastoral Care in Education, 23(1), 34–44. doi:10.1111/j.0264-3944.2005.00320.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guzzo, G., Lo Cascio, V., & Pace, U. (2013). The role of individual and relational characteristics on alcohol consumption among Italian adolescents: a discriminant function analysis. Child Indicators Research, 6(3), 605–618. doi:10.1007/s12187-013-9188-4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guzzo, G., Lo Cascio, V., Pace, U., & Zappulla, C. (2014). Psychometric properties and convergent validity of the dependency-oriented and achievement-oriented psychological control scale (DAPCS) with Italian adolescents. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 23, 1258–1267. doi:10.1007/s10826-013-9786-2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haraburda, E. M. (1988). The relationship of indecisiveness to the five factor personality model and psychological symptomology. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, Columbus OH.

  • Harter, S. (1990). Identity and self development. In S. Feldman & G. Elliott (Eds.), At the threshold: The developing adolescent (pp. 352–387). Cambridge: HarvardUniversity Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hollingshead, A. B. (1975). Four factor index of social status. Unpublished working paper, Department of Sociology, Yale University.

  • Holtgraves, T. (2004). Social desirability and self-reports: testing models of socially desirable responding. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 30(2), 161–172. doi:10.1177/0146167203259930.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Honaker, J., & King, G. (2010). What to do about missing values in time-series cross-section data. American Journal of Political Science, 54, 561–581.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hu, L. T., & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 6, 1–55. doi:10.1080/10705519909540118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Janis, I. L., & Mann, L. (1977). Decision making: A psychological analysis of conflict, choice, and commitment. New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Janis, I., & Mann, L. (1979). Decision making. A psychological analysis of conflict, choice, and commitment. New York: The Free Press, A division of Macmillan Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laghi, F., Baiocco, R., Lonigro, A., & Baumgartner, E. (2012). The role of parenting styles and alcohol expectancies in teen binge drinking: a preliminary investigation among Italian adolescents and their parents. Drugs: Education, Prevention & Policy. doi:10.3109/09687637.2012.713409.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lo Cascio, V., Guzzo, G., Pace, F., & Pace, U. (2013). Anxiety and self- esteem as mediators of the relation between family communication and indecisiveness in adolescence. International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance, 13(2), 135–149. doi:10.1007/s10775-013-9243-1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lo Presti, A., & Drammis, L. M. (2012). Un contributo alla validazione italiana del Career Factors Inventory [A contribution to the Italian validation of the career factors inventory]. Counseling – Giornale Italiano di Ricerca e Applicazioni, 2(5), 217–231.

    Google Scholar 

  • McAdams, D. P., Hart, H. M., & Maruna, S. (1998). The anatomy of generativity. In D. P. McAdams & E. de St. Aubin (Eds.), Generativity and adult development (pp. 7–43). Washington: American Psychological Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Milevsky, A., Schlechter, M., Netter, S., & Keehn, D. (2007). Maternal and paternal parenting styles in adolescents: associations with self-esteem, depression and life-satisfaction. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 16, 39–47. doi:10.1007/s10826-006-9066-5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Myers, R. (1990). Classical and modern regression with applications. Boston: Duxbury.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nota, L., Ferrari, L., Solberg, V. S. H., & Soresi, S. (2007). Career search self-efficacy, family support, and career indecision with Italian youth. Journal of Career Assessment, 15, 181–193. doi:10.1177/1069072706298019.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nota, L., Mann, L., Soresi, S., & Friedman, I. (2002). Decisione e Scelte [Decisions and choices]. Firenze: Iter-Organizzazioni Speciali.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pace, U., Cacioppo, M., & Schimmenti, A. (2012). The moderating role of father’s care on the onset of binge eating symptoms among female late adolescents with insecure attachment. Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 43, 282–292. doi:10.1007/s10578-011-0269-7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pace, U., & Zappulla, C. (2009). Identity processes and quality of emotional autonomy: The contribution of two developmental tasks on middle-adolescents’ subjective well-being. Identity: An International Journal of Theory and Research, 9, 323–340.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patalano, A. L., & LeClair, Z. (2011). The influence of group decision making on indecisiveness-related decisional confidence. Judgment and Decision Making, 6(2), 163–175.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pérez, J. C., & Cumsille, P. (2012). Adolescent temperament and parental control in the development of the adolescent decision making in a Chilean sample. Journal of Adolescence, 35, 659–669. doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2011.09.002.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Prezza, M., Trombaccia, F. R., & Armento, L. (1997). La scala dell’autostima di Rosenberg. Traduzione e validazione italiana [The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale: Italian translation and validation]. Bollettino di Psicologia applicata, 223, 35–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pychyl, T. A., Coplan, R. J., & Reid, P. A. M. (2002). Parenting and procrastination: Gender differences in the relations between procrastination, parenting style and self-worth in early adolescence. Personality and Individual Differences, 33, 271–285.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • R Development Core Team (2010). R: A language and environment for statistical computing. Vienna, Austria: the R Foundation for Statistical Computing. Retrieved from: http://www.R-project.org

  • Rassin, E. (2007). A psychological theory of indecisiveness. Netherlands Journal of Psychology, 63, 1–11. doi:10.1007/BF03061056.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rassin, E., & Muris, P. (2005). Indecisiveness and the interpretation of ambiguous situations. Personality and Individual Differences, 39, 1285–1291. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2005.06.006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rassin, E., Muris, P., Booster, E., & Kolsloot, I. (2008). Indecisiveness and informational tunnel vision. Personality and Individual Differences, 45, 96–102. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2008.03.006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reed, G. F. (1985). Obsessional experience and compulsive behaviour: A cognitive-structural approach. Orlando: Academic Press, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberg, M. (1965). Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Saka, N., & Gati, I. (2007). Applying decision theory to facilitating adolescent career choices. In V. B. Skorikov & W. Patton (Eds.), Career development in childhood and adolescence (pp. 181–202). Rotterdam: Sense.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saka, N., Gati, I., & Kelly, K. R. (2008). Emotional and personality-related aspects of career decision-making difficulties. Journal of Career Assessment, 16, 403–424. doi:10.1177/1069072708318900.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sayil, M., & Kindap, Y. (2010). Ergenin anne-babadan algıladığı psikolojik kontrol: Psikolojik kontrol ölçeğinin geçerlik ve güvenirliği [Perceived parental psychological control in adolescents: Reliability and validity of the psychological control scale]. Türk Psikoloji Yazıları, 13(25), 62–75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schafer, J. L. (1997). Analysis of incomplete multivariate data. London, UK: Chapman and Hall.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Schimmenti, A. (2012). Unveiling the hidden self: developmental trauma and pathological shame. Psychodynamic Practice: Individuals, Groups and Organisations, 18(2), 195–211. doi:10.1080/14753634.2012.664873.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schimmenti, A., Guglielmucci, F., Barbasio, C., & Granieri, A. (2012). Attachment disorganization and dissociation in virtual worlds: A study on problematic internet use among players of online role playing games. Clinical Neuropsychiatry, 9(5), 195–202.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schimmenti, A., Passanisi, A., Gervasi, A. M., Manzella, S., & Famà, F. I. (2013). Insecure attachment attitudes in the onset of problematic internet use among late adolescents. Child Psychiatry and Human Development. doi:10.1007/s10578-013-0428-0.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schimmenti, A., Passanisi, A., Pace, U., Manzella, S., Di Carlo, G., & Caretti, V. (2014). The relationship between attachment and psychopathy: a study with a sample of violent offenders. Current Psychology. doi:10.1007/s12144-014-9211-z.

    Google Scholar 

  • Serling, D. A., & Betz, N. E. (1990). Development and evaluation of a measure of fear of commitment. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 37, 91–97. doi:10.1037/0022-0167.37.1.91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shek, D. T. L. (2002). Chinese adolescents’ perceptions of family functioning: Personal, school-related and family correlates. Genetic, Social, and General Psychology Monographs, 128, 358–380.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Silk, J., Morris, A., Kanaya, T., & Steinberg, L. (2003). Psychological control and autonomy granting: Opposite ends of a continuum or distinct constructs? Journal of Research on Adolescence, 13, 113–128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Soenens, B., & Vansteenkiste, M. (2010). A theoretical upgrade of the concept of parental psychological control: proposing new insights on the basis of self-determination theory. Developmental Review, 30, 74–99. doi:10.1016/j.dr.2009.11.001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Soenens, B., Luyckx, K., Vansteenkiste, M., Luyten, P., Duriez, B., & Goossens, L. (2008). Maladaptive perfectionism as an intervening variable between psychological control and adolescent depressive symptoms: a three-wave longitudinal study. Journal of Family Psychology, 22(3), 465–474. doi:10.1037/0893-3200.22.3.465.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Soenens, B., Vansteenkiste, M., & Luyten, P. (2010). Toward a domain-specific approach to the study of parental psychological control: distinguishing between dependency-oriented and achievement-oriented psychological control. Journal of Personality, 78, 217–256. doi:10.1111/j.1467-6494.2009.00614.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stolz, H. E., Barber, B. K., & Olsen, J. A. (2005). Toward disentangling fathering and mothering: an assessment of relative importance. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 67, 1076–1092. doi:10.1111/j.1741-3737.2005.00195.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swann, W. B., Stein-Seroussi, A., & Giesler, R. B. (1992). Why people self-verify. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 62, 392–401. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.62.3.392.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, L., & Walker, A. (1989). Gender in families: Women and men in marriage, work, and parenthood. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 51, 845–871.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Veneziano, R. A. (2003). The importance of parental warmth. Cross-Cultural Research, 37, 265–281. doi:10.1177/1069397103253710.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vondracek, F. W., Hostetler, M., Schulenberg, J. E., & Shimizu, K. (1990). Dimensions of career indecision. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 37, 98–106. doi:10.1037/0022-0167.37.1.98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Young, R. A., Marshall, S., Domene, J. F., Arato-Bolivar, J., Hayoun, R., Marshall, E., & Valach, L. (2006). Relationships, communication, and career in the parent-adolescent projects of families with and without challenges. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 68(1), 1–23. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2005.05.001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zappulla, C., Pace, U., Lo Cascio, V., Guzzo, G., & Huebner, S. (2014). Factor structure and convergent validity of the long and abbreviated versions of the multidimensional students’ life satisfaction scale in an Italian sample. Social Indicators Research, 118, 57–69. doi:10.1007/s11205-013-0418-4.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Economics, Business and Statistics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy

    Valentina Lo Cascio

  2. Department of Human and Social Science, University of Enna “Kore”, Enna, 94100, Italy

    Giovanni Guzzo, Ugo Pace & Carmela Madonia

  3. Department of Psychological, Pedagogical, and Educational Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy

    Francesco Pace

Authors
  1. Valentina Lo Cascio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Giovanni Guzzo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Francesco Pace
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ugo Pace
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Carmela Madonia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Valentina Lo Cascio or Giovanni Guzzo.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lo Cascio, V., Guzzo, G., Pace, F. et al. The Relationship among Paternal and Maternal Psychological Control, Self-Esteem, and Indecisiveness across Adolescent Genders. Curr Psychol 35, 467–477 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-015-9315-0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-015-9315-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation