Parental Emotional Regulation, Perceived Competence, and Parent-Child Relationship in Adolescents

Abstract

Adolescence is a time of increased emotional vulnerability and shifting family dynamics, and the parent–child relationship has a strong influence on psychological adjustment. The link between emotional regulation of parents and parenting quality has been examined, and the same is true for parents' sense of competence. However, these two variables have not been examined together from an adolescent's point of view, especially in non-Western cultures. The aims and objectives were to explore the links between adolescents' perceptions of emotional regulation of parents (indicated by their expressed emotion), perceived competence of parents and parent–child relationship quality (attachment) and to determine whether the first two factors predict the latter. The design used was quantitative – cross-sectional – correlational. A convenience sample of adolescents (N = 250; 66.4% aged 16-19 years; 53.2% male) who lived with at least one parent/primary caregiver in the school/college setting was recruited. They filled out the Level of Expressed Emotion (LEE) Scale, the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment–Revised (IPPA-R, Parent) and the Family Education Scale–Adolescent Report (PCSA). Descriptive statistics, Cronbach alpha, Pearson’s correlation and multiple linear regression were used for data analysis. Higher parent–child attachment was related to lower parent expressed emotion (parent emotional regulation) (r(250) = −.51, p < .001). There was no correlation between perceived parental competence and either expressed emotion (r = .02, p = .756) or attachment (r = .00, p = .996). In the regression model (R² = .26, F = 42.56, p < .001), expressed emotion significantly predicted attachment (β = −.51, p < .001), whereas parental competence did not (β = .01, p = .851). This sample, the emotional context adults set for their children (as opposed to the children's perceptions of parental competence) was the most important correlates and predictors of relationship quality. Results indicate the effectiveness of interventions targeting families and their emotion regulation and communication.