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Behavioral Sciences
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Influence of Parenting in Adolescent and Young Adult Development
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Influence of Parenting in Adolescent and Young Adult Development

A special issue of Behavioral Sciences (ISSN 2076-328X). This special issue belongs to the section "Educational Psychology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 November 2026 | Viewed by 8436

Editor

Prof. Dr. Ming Cui

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Human Development and Family Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
Interests: adolescent and young adult development; family relationships and processes; parenting; cultural diversity; research methodology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

Family theorists and researchers have long emphasized the importance of parents in child development in social, emotional, and behavioral domains. As children become older, parents continue to impact their older children’s lives. Extensive research focuses on the role of parents in younger children, whereas the influence of parenting on adolescent and young adult children is relatively less studied. As a result, many important questions remain regarding parenting of adolescents and young adults, such as how do parents and adolescent children renegotiate parenting during the stage of adolescents’ autonomy and independence seeking? What is age-appropriate parenting behavior when young adult children start taking on adult responsibilities? Are there differences in the effects of parenting between mothers and fathers on daughters and sons? How do parenting practices differ across families from diverse backgrounds? 

This Special Issue calls for increased research attention and effort to improve our understanding of the role of parenting during the developmental stages of adolescence and young adulthood. Potential paper topics include, but are not limited to: conceptualization and measurement of parenting; stability and change in parenting; antecedents, patterns, and profiles of parenting; diverse family contexts and processes of parenting; the effects of parenting on parent–child relationships and child development, the effects of parenting on parents’ own health and well-being, and on marital and coparenting practices and relationships; and mechanisms and/or risk/resilience factors that explain the effects of parenting.

If you have an article that you think would be appropriate for this Special Issue, we invite you to submit an abstract by the deadline.

Abstract Deadline: 30 September 2025

Notification of Abstract Acceptance: 15 October 2025

Prof. Dr. Ming Cui
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Behavioral Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • parenting
  • parents
  • parent–child
  • child development
  • adolescent
  • young adult
  • family

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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17 pages, 592 KB  
Article
Parental Education as a Tool for Sustainable Development: The Role of Self-Efficacy and Relationship Satisfaction in Family Well-Being
by Chiș Roxana Mariana and Chiș Sabin
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(5), 692; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16050692 - 30 Apr 2026
Viewed by 498
Abstract
Family and parental education are increasingly recognized as key levers for sustainable development and family well-being. This study examines whether an online parental intervention program focused on strengthening parental self-efficacy can improve parents’ relationship satisfaction and couple satisfaction. A sample of 50 Romanian [...] Read more.
Family and parental education are increasingly recognized as key levers for sustainable development and family well-being. This study examines whether an online parental intervention program focused on strengthening parental self-efficacy can improve parents’ relationship satisfaction and couple satisfaction. A sample of 50 Romanian parents with below-average levels of parental self-efficacy and relationship satisfaction was randomly assigned to an experimental group and a control group. Participants in the experimental group attended the “Confident Parents” program over three months, while the control group received no structured intervention. Pre- and post-test data were collected using standardized measures of parental self-efficacy, couple satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction. Data analysis combined non-parametric Wilcoxon signed-rank tests with linear regression and moderation analysis. The results showed significant pre–post improvements in parental self-efficacy, relationship satisfaction, and couple satisfaction in the experimental group, with no meaningful changes in the control group. Post-test, parental self-efficacy significantly predicted both relationship satisfaction and couple satisfaction, and moderation analyses indicated that this predictive relationship was stronger for parents in the intervention group. These findings suggest that parental education programs centered on self-efficacy can contribute to more satisfying couple and family relationships, supporting psychological well-being and the broader goals of sustainable family functioning. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Influence of Parenting in Adolescent and Young Adult Development)
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27 pages, 1269 KB  
Article
Parenting Across European Cultures: Parental Practices and Adolescent Adjustment in Germany and Spain
by Joan García-Perales, Joan García-Ruiz, Desamparados Ruiz Gil and Margarete Imhof
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(5), 638; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16050638 - 24 Apr 2026
Viewed by 458
Abstract
This study examines whether the association between parenting styles and adolescent adjustment reflects universal principles or culturally embedded processes, comparing adolescents from Germany (n = 395) and Spain (n = 331). Grounded in the bidimensional model of parental socialization (warmth × [...] Read more.
This study examines whether the association between parenting styles and adolescent adjustment reflects universal principles or culturally embedded processes, comparing adolescents from Germany (n = 395) and Spain (n = 331). Grounded in the bidimensional model of parental socialization (warmth × strictness), four styles were identified: authoritative, indulgent, authoritarian, and neglectful. Participants (Mage = 15.6 years) completed measures of parental socialization (ESPA29) and multidimensional self-concept (AF5); academic achievement was obtained from school records; and substance use was self-reported. A cross-sectional design was employed. Multivariate analyses of variance that revealed warmth was positively associated with all self-concept domains and negatively with substance use, whereas strictness showed weak or negative links. Significant Parenting Style × Country interactions emerged for academic self-concept, achievement, and substance use. In the Spanish sample, indulgent parenting exhibited a distinct pattern, particularly with respect to academic self-concept. Among German adolescents, both indulgent and authoritative styles yielded favorable outcomes, with authoritative parenting demonstrating protective effects against substance use. These findings suggest that the effectiveness of the authoritative style may not be uniform across contexts and underscore the importance of cultural factors in defining optimal parenting, supporting a contextualist model of adolescent socialization across European contexts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Influence of Parenting in Adolescent and Young Adult Development)
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18 pages, 587 KB  
Article
Parental Educational Involvement and Academic Delay of Gratification Among Chinese Adolescents: The Chain-Mediating Role of Self-Control and Consideration of Future Consequences
by Ming Zhang, Yifei Li and Hui Zhao
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(3), 407; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16030407 - 11 Mar 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1627
Abstract
Parental educational involvement is a pivotal factor associated with an individual’s academic development; however, its specific association with academic delay of gratification and the underlying mechanisms remain not fully understood. Drawing upon ecosystem theory, this study examined a serial mediation model to explore [...] Read more.
Parental educational involvement is a pivotal factor associated with an individual’s academic development; however, its specific association with academic delay of gratification and the underlying mechanisms remain not fully understood. Drawing upon ecosystem theory, this study examined a serial mediation model to explore the links between parental educational involvement and academic delay of gratification, focusing on the mediating roles of self-control and consideration of future consequences. A cross-sectional design was employed, involving 726 junior high school students. Data were collected using the Parental Educational Involvement Scale, Academic Delay of Gratification Scale, Self-Control Scale, and Consideration of Future Consequences Scale, with statistical analyses performed via SPSS 26.0 and the PROCESS macro. The results indicated that: (1) parental educational involvement, academic delay of gratification, self-control, and consideration of future consequences were positively correlated with each other in a pairwise manner; (2) academic delay of gratification was significantly predicted by parental educational involvement (β = 0.117, p < 0.001); (3) self-control and consideration of future consequences play a mediating role in the relationship between parental education involvement and academic delay of gratification. There are three mediating pathways involved in this process: the individual mediating role of self-control (β = 0.092, 95% CI [0.054, 0.133]), the individual mediating role of consideration of future consequences (β = 0.030, 95% CI [0.015, 0.050]) and the chain mediating role of self-control and consideration of future consequences (β = 0.015, 95% CI [0.008, 0.024]). This study examined the internal mechanism between parental educational involvement and academic delay of gratification, which is helpful in improving junior middle school students’ ability to engage in academic delay of gratification. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Influence of Parenting in Adolescent and Young Adult Development)
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16 pages, 712 KB  
Article
The Longitudinal and Reciprocal Associations Among Maternal Aggravation, Verbal Aggression, and Internalizing Problems from Childhood to Adolescence
by Kayla Stange-Bacher and Ming Cui
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(2), 201; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16020201 - 30 Jan 2026
Viewed by 814
Abstract
Parents have a major influence on a child’s wellbeing, including the development of internalizing problems in their children. Furthermore, the influences between parents and their children could be reciprocal. This study examined the longitudinal, reciprocal association between maternal aggravation and child internalizing problems [...] Read more.
Parents have a major influence on a child’s wellbeing, including the development of internalizing problems in their children. Furthermore, the influences between parents and their children could be reciprocal. This study examined the longitudinal, reciprocal association between maternal aggravation and child internalizing problems from childhood to adolescence and the potential mediating role of maternal verbal aggression. Using a sample of approximately 5000 mothers across four waves from the Future of Families & Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS), results from a cross-lagged autoregressive model suggested that maternal aggravation was related to child internalizing problems from childhood to adolescence, whereas child internalizing problems were related to maternal aggravation only during early childhood. No mediation effect through maternal verbal aggression was found. Taken together, these findings highlight the long-term and direct impact of maternal aggravation on child internalizing problems, which has important implications for family researchers and practitioners. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Influence of Parenting in Adolescent and Young Adult Development)
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16 pages, 463 KB  
Article
The Effect of Parental Psychological Control on Real-Life Social Avoidance in College Students: A Moderated Chain Mediation Model
by Panqin Ye, Lin Zhang, Yan Li, Furong Lu and Yufang Bian
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(1), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16010034 - 23 Dec 2025
Viewed by 1152
Abstract
This study examined the associations between parental psychological control and real-life social avoidance among college students, focusing on the chain mediating roles of basic psychological needs and problematic smartphone use, as well as the moderating role of interpersonal sensitivity. A total of 1879 [...] Read more.
This study examined the associations between parental psychological control and real-life social avoidance among college students, focusing on the chain mediating roles of basic psychological needs and problematic smartphone use, as well as the moderating role of interpersonal sensitivity. A total of 1879 college students participated in the study. The results revealed that parental psychological control is positively associated with college students’ social avoidance behavior. Furthermore, basic psychological needs and problematic smartphone use played significant sequential mediating roles in this association. Moreover, a sequential mediation pathway was found through basic psychological needs and problematic smartphone use. Additionally, interpersonal sensitivity was identified as a significant moderator, moderating the strength of the association between parental psychological control, and basic psychological needs. These findings provide important evidence for understanding the correlational mechanisms associated with real-life social avoidance among college students and offer practical insights for the development of intervention strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Influence of Parenting in Adolescent and Young Adult Development)
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15 pages, 556 KB  
Brief Report
Examining the Roles of Parent–Child Gender Dyads in the Association Between Parental Psychological Control and Adolescent Depressive Symptoms in Chinese Families
by Yuan Zhang, Shanhong Luo, Linda C. Halgunseth, Erin A. Moeser-Whittle, Anthony Hubert, Mary A. Balogun and Hao Wu
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(4), 605; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16040605 - 19 Apr 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1077
Abstract
Although Chinese parents’ use of psychological control has been linked with adolescent mental health, no studies to our knowledge have considered how the association may differ across gender dyads of parents and adolescents and minimal research has examined the joint influences of Chinese [...] Read more.
Although Chinese parents’ use of psychological control has been linked with adolescent mental health, no studies to our knowledge have considered how the association may differ across gender dyads of parents and adolescents and minimal research has examined the joint influences of Chinese mothers’ and fathers’ use of psychological control on adolescent depressive symptoms. Participants included 3069 Chinese adolescents who rated their depressive symptoms as well as their mothers’ and fathers’ use of psychological control. Regression results revealed that the positive association between fathers’ psychological control and depressive symptoms was significant at low but not at high levels of mothers’ psychological control. Moreover, the positive association between fathers’ psychological control and depressive symptoms was significant for daughters but not for sons. Mothers’ psychological control was consistently positively associated with adolescent depressive symptoms. Findings from this study provide a more nuanced understanding of how gender dyads within Chinese families may influence the link between parental psychological control and adolescent depressive symptoms and highlight the importance for mental health programs to include fathers in their treatment plans when working with Chinese adolescents and their families. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Influence of Parenting in Adolescent and Young Adult Development)
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33 pages, 867 KB  
Systematic Review
Associations Between Parental Alcohol Use and Parenting Practices: A Systematic Review
by Barbara Oliveira Carvalho, Tonje Holte Stea, Lindsey Coombes and Siri Håvås Haugland
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(2), 236; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16020236 - 7 Feb 2026
Viewed by 1670
Abstract
Parental practices strongly influence offspring development, and parental alcohol use may affect parenting behavior. However, most studies have focused on child-related outcomes. This review instead examined associations between parental drinking and parenting practices. Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search in MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Embase, [...] Read more.
Parental practices strongly influence offspring development, and parental alcohol use may affect parenting behavior. However, most studies have focused on child-related outcomes. This review instead examined associations between parental drinking and parenting practices. Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search in MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Embase, and Scopus identified 9053 articles. Of these, 222 full texts were screened by two reviewers, and 77 were included for critical appraisal. After quality assessment, 68 studies published between 1991 and 2026 were reviewed. Studies were included if they (i) measured parental alcohol use as a predictor and parenting practices as an outcome, (ii) involved offspring under 20 years, (iii) had a quantitative design, (iv) were peer-reviewed and published in English, and (v) excluded pregnancy measures and alcohol/parenting treatment interventions. Parenting factors (e.g., parent–child relationship, monitoring, communication, discipline, conflict, abuse) were categorized and grouped into general and alcohol-specific practices. Parental drinking was categorized into alcohol use disorders (AUD) and non-dependent alcohol use. Sixty-four studies reported at least one significant association between parental drinking and poorer parenting practices. Mixed results were observed for non-dependent drinking and alcohol-specific parenting. Some associations varied with parental gender. Overall, different drinking patterns appear to be linked to impaired parenting quality. Despite being the most common pattern of alcohol use, non-dependent drinking remains understudied in parenting research. The present review highlights several critical gaps in the literature, particularly regarding the relationship between non-dependent drinking, maternal AUD, and parenting practices. Moreover, contextual factors, such as socioeconomic status and gender differences, are insufficiently explored, limiting the understanding of heterogeneity in risk and outcomes. Future research would benefit from employing robust longitudinal designs and expanding geographical representation, in order to capture variation across sociocultural contexts and enhance the generalizability of findings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Influence of Parenting in Adolescent and Young Adult Development)
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