Abstract
The coincidence of historical trends in youth antisocial behavior and change in family demographics has led to speculation
of a causal link, possibly mediated by declining quality of parenting and parent–child relationships. No study to date has
directly assessed whether and how parenting and parent–child relationships have changed. Two national samples of English adolescents
aged 16–17 years in 1986 (N = 4,524 adolescents, 7,120 parents) and 2006 (N = 716 adolescents, 734 parents) were compared using identical questionnaire assessments. Youth-reported parental monitoring,
expectations, and parent–child quality time increased between 1986 and 2006. Ratings of parental interest did not change.
Parenting differences between affluent and disadvantaged families narrowed over time. There was thus little evidence of a
decline in quality of parenting for the population as a whole or for disadvantaged subgroups. Parent-reported youth conduct
problems showed a modest increase between 1986 and 2006. Findings suggested that the increase in youth conduct problems was
largely unrelated to observed change in parent–child relationships.
of a causal link, possibly mediated by declining quality of parenting and parent–child relationships. No study to date has
directly assessed whether and how parenting and parent–child relationships have changed. Two national samples of English adolescents
aged 16–17 years in 1986 (N = 4,524 adolescents, 7,120 parents) and 2006 (N = 716 adolescents, 734 parents) were compared using identical questionnaire assessments. Youth-reported parental monitoring,
expectations, and parent–child quality time increased between 1986 and 2006. Ratings of parental interest did not change.
Parenting differences between affluent and disadvantaged families narrowed over time. There was thus little evidence of a
decline in quality of parenting for the population as a whole or for disadvantaged subgroups. Parent-reported youth conduct
problems showed a modest increase between 1986 and 2006. Findings suggested that the increase in youth conduct problems was
largely unrelated to observed change in parent–child relationships.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-14
- DOI 10.1007/s10802-011-9543-1
- Authors
- Stephan Collishaw, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Section and MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetic and Genomics, Department of Psychological Medicine and Neurology, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath, 4th Floor, Cardiff, CF14 4XN UK
- Frances Gardner, Department of Social Policy and Social Work, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Barbara Maughan, MRC Social Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London, London, UK
- Jacqueline Scott, Department of Sociology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Andrew Pickles, Department of Biostatistics, Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London, London, UK
- Journal Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
- Online ISSN 1573-2835
- Print ISSN 0091-0627