Effects of Perceived Parenting Behaviors on Emotional Behavioral Problems in Adolescents: Considered with the Moderating Effects of Peer Attachment

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to examine the effects of perceived parenting behaviors on emotional behavioral problems in adolescents and the moderating effects of peer attachment. METHODS: A total of 1919 middle school students (males 968, females 951) were selected from the first and second data sets of the Korea Child and Youth Panel Survey (KCYPS). The t-test, Pearson correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were conducted using SPSS/WIN 18.0. RESULTS: Of the parenting behaviors, high monitoring, affection, and reasoning were associated with lower emotional behavioral problems of their adolescent offsprings, whereas inconsistency, intrusiveness, and over-expectations were associated with higher emotional behavioral problems. The moderating effects of peer attachment on the relationship between parenting behaviors and emotional behavioral problems were different according to the gender of the adolescent. In males, the moderating effects of peer attachment were significant between reasoning and attention problems and between affection and aggression. However, in females, they were significant when parental monitoring, inconsistency, and reasoning affected attention problems. CONCLUSIONS: Peer attachment plays an important role in the aggressive behaviors of male adolescents. This finding should be considered in preventing violence in schools.