Abstract
Informed by theories about processes in families with adolescent children, this study examined the contribution of self-perceived
decline in physical and cognitive functioning related to midlife, marital satisfaction, and parent–child conflict to psychological
well-being of parents of young adolescents. Parental well-being was conceptualized within Ryff’s multidimensional model, which
encompasses six dimensions: Autonomy, Self-Acceptance, Environmental Mastery, Positive Relationships with Others, Personal
Growth, and Purpose in Life. In examining relationships between parental well-being and supposed predictors, sociodemographic
variables (parental age and education), perceived general life stress, and perceived available social support were controlled
for. Participants were Croatian mothers (N = 356) and fathers (N = 328) whose oldest child was transitioning to adolescence. Overall, the patterns of associations between the studied predictors
and well-being dimensions were similar for mothers and fathers. The main finding of the study was that individual differences
in the psychological well-being of adolescents’ parents may be more attributable to self-perceived midlife changes (particularly
for mothers) and marital satisfaction (particularly for fathers) than to perceived level of parent–adolescent conflict.
decline in physical and cognitive functioning related to midlife, marital satisfaction, and parent–child conflict to psychological
well-being of parents of young adolescents. Parental well-being was conceptualized within Ryff’s multidimensional model, which
encompasses six dimensions: Autonomy, Self-Acceptance, Environmental Mastery, Positive Relationships with Others, Personal
Growth, and Purpose in Life. In examining relationships between parental well-being and supposed predictors, sociodemographic
variables (parental age and education), perceived general life stress, and perceived available social support were controlled
for. Participants were Croatian mothers (N = 356) and fathers (N = 328) whose oldest child was transitioning to adolescence. Overall, the patterns of associations between the studied predictors
and well-being dimensions were similar for mothers and fathers. The main finding of the study was that individual differences
in the psychological well-being of adolescents’ parents may be more attributable to self-perceived midlife changes (particularly
for mothers) and marital satisfaction (particularly for fathers) than to perceived level of parent–adolescent conflict.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Research Paper
- Pages 1-17
- DOI 10.1007/s10902-011-9307-1
- Authors
- Gordana Keresteš, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Ivana Lucica 3, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- Irma Brković, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Ivana Lucica 3, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- Gordana Kuterovac Jagodić, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Ivana Lucica 3, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- Journal Journal of Happiness Studies
- Online ISSN 1573-7780
- Print ISSN 1389-4978