Linking parenting processes and self-regulation to psychological functioning and alcohol use during early adolescence

A longitudinal transactional model was tested linking parenting and youth self-regulation to youths' psychological functioning and alcohol-use behavior. Participants included one hundred twenty 12-year-olds, their mothers, and their fathers from whom three waves of data were collected at 1-year intervals. Teachers provided assessments of self-regulation, and parenting was assessed from multiple perspectives, including youth reports, parent reports, and observer ratings. Youths reported their psychological functioning and alcohol-use behavior. The data supported the model. Parenting and youth self-regulation were stable across time, and self-regulation was linked with changes in harsh-conflicted parenting from Wave 1 to Wave 2. Parenting at Wave 2 was associated with youth self-regulation. Youth self-regulation at Wave 2 mediated the paths from parenting practices at Wave 2 to youth psychological functioning and alcohol use at Wave 3.