Abstract
Although parent behaviors and cognitions are important for stress/health outcomes throughout development, little research
examines whether cognitions mediate the relationship between parent behaviors and stress/health outcomes. As a result, the
current study examined the reports of 160 emerging adults regarding their mothers’ and fathers’ behaviors (via the Parental
Bonding Instrument and Alabama Parenting Questionnaire), their cognitions (via the Stress Appraisal Measure, Negative Mood
Regulation Scale, Life Orientation Test-Revised, General Self-Efficacy Scale, and Ruminative Response Scale-Abbreviated),
and their stress/health outcomes (via the Perceived Stress Scale and Short-Form Health Survey). Results of this study suggested
that emerging adults’ cognitions partially mediated the relationship between their mothers’ behaviors and their stress/health
outcomes and fully mediated the relationship between their fathers’ behaviors and their stress/health outcomes. Future research
should examine parent behaviors as important distal variables in emerging adults’ stress/health outcomes but should examine
cognitions as more salient, immediate predictors of their stress/health outcomes.
examines whether cognitions mediate the relationship between parent behaviors and stress/health outcomes. As a result, the
current study examined the reports of 160 emerging adults regarding their mothers’ and fathers’ behaviors (via the Parental
Bonding Instrument and Alabama Parenting Questionnaire), their cognitions (via the Stress Appraisal Measure, Negative Mood
Regulation Scale, Life Orientation Test-Revised, General Self-Efficacy Scale, and Ruminative Response Scale-Abbreviated),
and their stress/health outcomes (via the Perceived Stress Scale and Short-Form Health Survey). Results of this study suggested
that emerging adults’ cognitions partially mediated the relationship between their mothers’ behaviors and their stress/health
outcomes and fully mediated the relationship between their fathers’ behaviors and their stress/health outcomes. Future research
should examine parent behaviors as important distal variables in emerging adults’ stress/health outcomes but should examine
cognitions as more salient, immediate predictors of their stress/health outcomes.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Article
- Pages 1-20
- DOI 10.1007/s10578-012-0309-y
- Authors
- Reesa Donnelly, Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Kimberly Renk, Department of Psychology, University of Central Florida, P.O. Box 161390, Orlando, FL 32816, USA
- Cliff McKinney, Department of Psychology, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA
- Journal Child Psychiatry & Human Development
- Online ISSN 1573-3327
- Print ISSN 0009-398X