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Effects of Parental Internalizing Problems on Irritability in Adolescents: Moderation by Parental Warmth and Overprotection

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Abstract

Objectives

Research has shown a link between parental and offspring internalizing problems and that parental warmth and overprotection affect these relationships. However, less research has examined how parental warmth and overprotection affect the link between parental internalizing problems and irritability in adolescents. Thus, the current study investigated the moderating effect of parental warmth and overprotection on the relationship between parental internalizing problems and adolescent irritability in the context of parent and child gender.

Methods

Participants were parents of adolescents aged 10–24 years and completed surveys online about themselves, the adolescent, and the adolescent’s other primary caregiver. Questionnaires assessed parental warmth and overprotection, parental internalizing problems, and adolescent irritability.

Results

Results indicated a moderating effect of parental warmth (b = −0.08, p< 0.01) and overprotection (b = 0.21, p< 0.01) on the relationship between parental internalizing problems and adolescent irritability. Parent and child gender further moderated the relationship when examining parental overprotection (b = −0.16, p< 0.01) but not parental warmth.

Conclusions

Results highlight the importance of examining factors, such as parental internalizing problems, warmth, and overprotection, that influence the development of irritability symptoms in adolescents. Additionally, results highlight the importance of examining how gender moderates these relationships. For example, the effect of maternal overprotection on male adolescents was particularly important, which suggests that more research should be done to further understand the complex nature of this relationship.

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Funding

The current study was funded by the Mississippi State University Shackhouls Honors College.

Author Contributions

C.M. conceived of and designed the study, assisted with the literature review, conducted analyses, and revised and edited the manuscript. E.H.S. helped secure funding for the study, contributed to the conception and design of the study, assisted with making the study available to participants, and provided feedback on and edited the manuscript. A.S. secured funding for the study, made the study available to participants, assisted with analyses, and completed an initial draft of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, USA

    Cliff McKinney, Ellen H. Steele & AlliGrace Story

Authors
  1. Cliff McKinney
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  2. Ellen H. Steele
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  3. AlliGrace Story
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ellen H. Steele.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethics Statement

All participants were treated according to APA ethical standards. IRB approval was received from Mississippi State University.

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Informed consent was received from every participant in the study in accordance with APA ethical standards.

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McKinney, C., Steele, E.H. & Story, A. Effects of Parental Internalizing Problems on Irritability in Adolescents: Moderation by Parental Warmth and Overprotection. J Child Fam Stud 28, 2791–2799 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-019-01459-9

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