Controlerend opvoedgedrag en ouder-kind contact na scheiding in relatie tot internaliseren en externaliseren van adolescenten

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between parental control and internalizing problems and externalizing problems of adolescents from divorced parents. Furthermore, the possible moderating role of parent-child contact was examined. Data for this study is based on the research: ‘Scholieren & Gezinnen’ which consists of surveys and were collected by students of the Utrecht University. The survey is a combined survey based on short versions of existing surveys, for example: Direct and Indirect Aggression Scales (DIAS; Björkqvist, Lagerspetz, & Osterman, 1992), Co-parenting Behavior Questionnaire (CBQ; Schum & Stolberg, 2007) and Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI; Craighead, Smucker, Craighead, & Ilardi, 1998). The data was conducted in 2016 in the Netherlands. The sample of this study was randomly selected and consists of 267 adolescents from divorced families, with a mean age of 13.39 years (SD = 1.09). The results indicate a significant correlation between maternal control after divorce and internalizing- and externalizing problems. Which means that correcting and monitoring behavior by mothers after divorce was related to adolescents internalizing- and externalizing problems. There was no significant correlation between paternal control and internalizing- and externalizing problems. Further, maternal and paternal control were positively correlated, so more correcting and monitoring behaviors by mothers after divorce was related to more of these behaviors by fathers. Then, in regard to paternal-child contact the results show that more paternal-child contact is related to more paternal control and adolescents externalizing problems. And more maternal-child contact is associated with more maternal control. The results suggest that only maternal control predicts less internalizing- and externalizing problems for adolescents after divorce. To conclude, this study shows only maternal control was related to adolescents internalizing- and externalizing problems. More controlling parenting by mothers after divorce was related to more of these behaviors by fathers. Also, parent-child contact after divorce refers to more parental control but not in the relation between parental control and adolescents internalizing- and externalizing problems. These results emphasize the importance of parental control, adolescents internalizing- and externalizing problems and parent-child contact in future studies and interventions.