Mothers and Fathers Matter: The Influence of Parental Support, Hostility, and Problem Solving on Adolescent Friendships

Heather Kohler Flynn, Diane H. Felmlee, Xiaoling Shu, Rand D. Conger

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

We examine the pathways by which parents influence adolescents’ close friendships, focusing on three types of behavioral styles: hostile, warm, and problem solving. Structural equation models are estimated using data at two time points from the Iowa Youth and Families Project (N = 227 friendship pairs). Results suggest that the lives of adolescents and both their mother and father are inexorably linked. Observed interactions with a close friend at Time 2 reveal teens recreate their parents’ original hostile, supportive, and problem-solving styles from Time 1. This outcome depends on (a) type of behavior and (b) gender. Mothers’ supportive behavior, fathers’ problem solving, and both parents’ hostile behavior significantly influence adolescents’ comparable interaction styles. Adolescents’ subsequent behavior toward their friend significantly affects friendship quality. Lower levels of hostile behavior in female youth, increased problem solving by males, and supportive actions toward a friend for both relate positively to rewarding friendships.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2389-2412
Number of pages24
JournalJournal of Family Issues
Volume39
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 2018

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Social Sciences (miscellaneous)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Mothers and Fathers Matter: The Influence of Parental Support, Hostility, and Problem Solving on Adolescent Friendships'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this