The Role of Effortful Control in the Relationships Among Parental Control, Intentional Self-regulation, and Adolescent Obedience

This study aimed to examine how effortful control moderates the relationship between parental psychological and behavioral control and adolescent obedience through intentional self-regulation. The sample consisted of 329 adolescents who were in seventh grade and from northern Taiwan (141 females; 188 males; average age = 13.32 years). We collected data at schools by administering questionnaires to the participants. Regression analysis was used to examine the proposed hypotheses. The results indicated that there were a direct pathway from fathers’ and mothers’ behavioural control to obedience, and an indirect pathway from fathers’ and mothers’ behavioural control to obedience through intentional self-regulation. Effortful control moderated the direct effect between mothers’ behavioural control and obedience but did not moderate the indirect effect between mothers’ behavioural control and obedience via intentional self-regulation. Adolescent obedience to parental authority was affected by the mutual influences of individual characteristics and maternal discipline. Effortful control and intentional self-regulation have distinctive roles in the relationship between parental control and adolescent obedience.