Associations Between Parenting Practices and Peer Pressure Among Adolescents: The Mediating Role of Autonomy and Relatedness

TL;DR

This study explores how parenting styles affect adolescents' vulnerability to peer pressure through their sense of autonomy and connection with others.

Contribution

The paper identifies psychological control as a key factor increasing peer pressure susceptibility, mediated by autonomy and relatedness.

Findings

High psychological control increases susceptibility to peer pressure through reduced autonomy and relatedness.

Parental support reduces susceptibility to peer pressure by enhancing autonomy and relatedness.

Gender moderates the effect of psychological control on peer pressure, with boys being more affected.

Abstract

Parents influence their children’s social development, including their susceptibility to peer pressure. Both parenting practices and peer pressure are associated with adolescents' basic needs for autonomy and relatedness, essential for healthy development. However, the mechanisms underlying these relationships require further exploration. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory, this study addresses the following questions: (1) How do different parenting practices (parental support, psychological control, and behavioral control) affect adolescents’ autonomy and relatedness? (2) Do autonomy and relatedness mediate the relationship between parenting practices and susceptibility to peer pressure? (3) Does gender moderate the association between parenting practices and susceptibility to peer pressure? Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to analyse data from 2156 Dutch adolescents (Mage = 14.67, SD = 1.33; 1129 girls). Results indicate that high psychological control—a parenting practice involving guilt induction and love withdrawal—is associated with higher susceptibility to peer pressure, while high parental support is associated with reduced susceptibility. Behavioral control showed no direct effect on peer pressure. Psychological control negatively impacted autonomy and relatedness, while behavioral control and support positively affected relatedness and negatively affected autonomy. Autonomy and relatedness mediated the relationship between psychological control and susceptibility to peer pressure, and between parental support and susceptibility to peer pressure. Gender moderated the relationship between psychological control and susceptibility to peer pressure, with boys showing a stronger association. These findings highlight the importance of supportive parenting in fostering adolescents' autonomy and relatedness, ultimately reducing their susceptibility to peer pressure. They offer valuable insights for developing effective parenting programs tailored to adolescents' needs, incorporating a gender-sensitive approach.

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