Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Graduate Theses and Dissertations Dissertations 2016 Processes involving forms of parental control and child internalizing and externalizing behavior Dong Zhang Iowa State University Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd Part of the Applied Behavior Analysis Commons, Developmental Psychology Commons, and the Social Psychology Commons Recommended Citation Zhang, Dong, "Processes involving forms of parental control and child internalizing and externalizing behavior" (2016). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 15219. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd/15219 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Processes involving forms of parental control and child internalizing and externalizing behavior by Dong Zhang A dissertation submitted to the graduate faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Major: Human Development and Family Studies Program of Study Committee: Clinton Gudmunson, Major Professor Cynthia Fletcher Daniel Russell Mack Shelley Cindy Yu Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 2016 Copyright © Dong Zhang, 2016. All rights reserved. ii DEDICATION I dedicate this dissertation to my wife Cheng, whose support help me during the whole process of this work, and to my son Ethan, who is the source of my motivation. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................................ v ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................... vi CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER 2. POTENTIAL ANTECEDENTS OF PARENTAL CONTROL BEHAVIORS: EXPANSION OF THE FAMILY STRESS MODEL .................................................................... 8 Abstract ....................................................................................................................................... 8 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 9 Literature Review...................................................................................................................... 10 Parental Control Behaviors and Child Outcomes ................................................................. 10 Family Stress Model ............................................................................................................. 15 The Current Study ................................................................................................................. 18 Method ...................................................................................................................................... 20 Data and Sample ................................................................................................................... 20 Procedure .............................................................................................................................. 22 Measures ............................................................................................................................... 23 Analytic Plan ......................................................................................................................... 27 Results ....................................................................................................................................... 29 Discussion ................................................................................................................................. 30 References ................................................................................................................................. 37 CHAPTER 3. THE ROLE OF NEEDS IN THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PARENTAL CONTROL BEHAVIORS AND CHILD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOMES: AN APPLICATION OF SELF-DETERMINATION THEORY ........................................................ 48 Abstract ..................................................................................................................................... 48 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 49 Literature Review...................................................................................................................... 51 Parental Control Behavior and Child Outcomes ................................................................... 51 Self-Determination Theory ................................................................................................... 55 The Current Study ................................................................................................................. 59 Method ...................................................................................................................................... 61 Participants and Procedure .................................................................................................... 61 Measures ............................................................................................................................... 62 iv Analytic Plan ......................................................................................................................... 66 Results ....................................................................................................................................... 69 Characteristics of the Sample................................................................................................ 69 Conceptual Model ................................................................................................................. 69 Baseline Model between Parental Control Behavior and Child Outcomes .......................... 70 Child Autonomy Model ........................................................................................................ 70 Child Competency Model ..................................................................................................... 71 Child Relatedness Model ...................................................................................................... 73 Discussion ................................................................................................................................. 74 References ................................................................................................................................. 79 CHAPTER 4. DISCUSSION ........................................................................................................ 94 Family Stress Model ................................................................................................................. 94 Parental Control Behaviors ....................................................................................................... 95 Self-Determination Theory ....................................................................................................... 97 Adolescent Adjustment ............................................................................................................. 98 OVERALL REFERENCES ........................................................................................................ 104 APPENDIX. IRB EXEMPT STATUS ....................................................................................... 119 v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would first like to express my sincerest appreciation to my major professor Dr. Clinton Gudmunson who has provided invaluable guidance and instruction throughout all stages of my doctoral training. I would also like to thank him for the freedom and opportunities to develop my research interests and necessary skills. I look forward to our continuing relationship both professionally and personally. I would also like to thank my doctoral POS committee members, Dr. Daniel Russell, Dr. Cynthia Fletcher, Dr. Mack Shelley and Dr. Cindy Yu, for their insightful suggestions during the early stages of this dissertation, which helped not only the two current studies but also my future research direction. In addition, I want to extend my great appreciation to the opportunity to analyze the data from the Flourishing Families Project (FFP). Without the foresight of the principal investigators, Dr. Randal Day and Dr. Laura Walker, the current studies would not have been possible. Lastly, I would like to thank my research supervisors, Dr. Carla Peterson and Dr. Janet Melby, my colleagues, my friends, and all other people who have provided me various types of support during my doctoral study. Words cannot express my love and appreciation for the support and dedication of my wife, Cheng, my father, Mingguo and the little one, Ethan. vi ABSTRACT The current study used structural equation modeling to explore the effect of family financial hardship on parental control behaviors, which in turn affect child developmental outcomes. The research focused on two major questions: how family economic stress affects parental control behavior, and why psychological control and