Periodic Reporting for period 1 - PARADOx (When Parental Support Backfires on Adolescents)
Période du rapport: 2023-05-01 au 2025-10-31
Between age 12 and 18 children develop crucial strengths, such as successfully coping with everyday stress and functioning independently from their parents (Allen et al., 1994; Koepke & Denissen, 2012; Zimmer-Gembeck & Skinner, 2011). For up to one-third of adolescents this development goes awry, leading to emotional problems, such as depression and anxiety (Kessler et al., 2012). The devastating consequences of adolescent emotional problems often last a life time, and include school drop-out, reduced social participation, serious psychiatric disorders, and suicide (e.g. Yiend et al., 2009). Preventive strategies are urgently needed to safeguard the mental health of next generations.
Parenting is a high-potential target in the prevention of emotional problems (Gladstone & Beardslee, 2009; Restifo & Bögels, 2009). There is scientific consensus that parents who provide affection, comfort, companionship, and guidance foster adolescents’ well-being (McLeod et al., 2007; Riley & Masten, 2005; Smetana, 2017). Recently, both popular media commentators and parenting specialists have warned against overly supportive parents. Parents who go ‘above and beyond to protect their child and ensure their child’s happiness’ (Luebbe et al., 2018, p842), may paradoxically, cause exactly what they intend to prevent in the longer run (Padilla-Walker & Nelson, 2012; Reed et al., 2016).
The main objective of this project is to solve this PARADOX, focusing on answering three questions.
RQ1 (build a novel theory): In which families and through which family-specific mechanisms does parental support undermine, rather than promote, well-being?
RQ2 (apply and develop novel methods): How can we study family-specific dynamic processes of parenting,
in which short-term and long-term effects may be opposing?
RQ3 (develop novel interventions for practice): Can a novel intervention with personalized practical advice improve family functioning and child well-being?
Parenting is a high-potential target in the prevention of emotional problems (Gladstone & Beardslee, 2009; Restifo & Bögels, 2009). There is scientific consensus that parents who provide affection, comfort, companionship, and guidance foster adolescents’ well-being (McLeod et al., 2007; Riley & Masten, 2005; Smetana, 2017). Recently, both popular media commentators and parenting specialists have warned against overly supportive parents. Parents who go ‘above and beyond to protect their child and ensure their child’s happiness’ (Luebbe et al., 2018, p842), may paradoxically, cause exactly what they intend to prevent in the longer run (Padilla-Walker & Nelson, 2012; Reed et al., 2016).
The main objective of this project is to solve this PARADOX, focusing on answering three questions.
RQ1 (build a novel theory): In which families and through which family-specific mechanisms does parental support undermine, rather than promote, well-being?
RQ2 (apply and develop novel methods): How can we study family-specific dynamic processes of parenting,
in which short-term and long-term effects may be opposing?
RQ3 (develop novel interventions for practice): Can a novel intervention with personalized practical advice improve family functioning and child well-being?
Data collection. A primary achievement of the project so far is a successfully concluded groundbreaking data collection. Recruitment for the main study was completed in October 2024, exceeding our recruitment goals (we started with a total of 1102 participants, rather than the planned 1000). On October 14th the baseline survey was distributed and filled in by all participants. Starting October 21st 2024, adolescents and one of their parents filled in over 64.000 momentary surveys on their well-being and interactions over the first three weeks of the study, providing unprecedented insights into how parent-child interactions take place in the immediate moment and shape well-being. A further 71.933 daily surveys were provided by participants over the next 125 days and currently, 31 out of the planned 100 weekly surveys (all 25 for the third subproject) and the first half-yearly follow-up survey have been administered. To ensure the highest quality of data collection, we conducted both a technical test and pilot study before the main data collection. Findings from the technical test and pilot study were implemented in the main data collection procedure. In addition, two qualitative studies (interviews and focus groups) were conducted to help shape the study design and content. In line with open science practices, the full study codebook was preregistered. The acquired data on parenting and adolescent well-being on multiple timescales allows us to answer the primary theoretical question of PARADOx: for whom parental support might backfire, and why.
Designed and tested a novel e-Intervention for parenting. Moreover, the project designed a novel parenting intervention which was provided to over 200 families. This intervention aims to improve adolescent well-being by strengthening the parenting dynamics structure, autonomy support and support. We assessed whether this personalized intervention was more effective than a general intervention, and whether both intervention groups would improve in their family functioning compared to a control group of 300 families. The first insights seem to suggest that our hypothesis is confirmed.
Designed and tested a novel e-Intervention for parenting. Moreover, the project designed a novel parenting intervention which was provided to over 200 families. This intervention aims to improve adolescent well-being by strengthening the parenting dynamics structure, autonomy support and support. We assessed whether this personalized intervention was more effective than a general intervention, and whether both intervention groups would improve in their family functioning compared to a control group of 300 families. The first insights seem to suggest that our hypothesis is confirmed.
Theoretical impact. The currently collected data will allow the team to investigate for whom, and how parental support might backfire and be harmful rather than promotive. Such insights on the level of individual families may contribute to novel theoretical insights (e.g. opposing effects on the short and long term) and answer questions such as “how can parents best support their adolescent children?” Parents play a crucial role in the emergence of adolescent mental health problems, both as a protective factor and a potential cause. Thus, elucidating how the dynamics between parental support and adolescent well-being unfold in individual families may provide crucial insights on how to best support individual families navigate their specific dynamics. International work visits, conference presentations and our advisory board will be essential for uptake and success.
Methodological innovations. However, studying how parenting processes in the short term affect developmental change in the long term is highly complex. The newly collected data provide the unique opportunity to investigate such complex non-linear dynamics. Furthermore, these insights will contribute to extending the methodological paradigm in the behavioral sciences, which will be faciltitated by the infrastructures that we have set up (an ESM center locally, chairing the international network of ESM centra) and through collaborating with and work visits to methodologists.
Practical impact. Finally, we evaluate the effectiveness of our applied parenting intervention, which will be a powerful experimental test of our hypothesized family-specific theory of parental support. By studying whether a personalized intervention was more effective than a general intervention, or no intervention at all, we immediately translate theoretical insights into practice and may provide concrete insights into how we might support parenting and adolescent well-being in individual families. To facilitate implementation, we have established strong working alliances with national stakeholders.
Methodological innovations. However, studying how parenting processes in the short term affect developmental change in the long term is highly complex. The newly collected data provide the unique opportunity to investigate such complex non-linear dynamics. Furthermore, these insights will contribute to extending the methodological paradigm in the behavioral sciences, which will be faciltitated by the infrastructures that we have set up (an ESM center locally, chairing the international network of ESM centra) and through collaborating with and work visits to methodologists.
Practical impact. Finally, we evaluate the effectiveness of our applied parenting intervention, which will be a powerful experimental test of our hypothesized family-specific theory of parental support. By studying whether a personalized intervention was more effective than a general intervention, or no intervention at all, we immediately translate theoretical insights into practice and may provide concrete insights into how we might support parenting and adolescent well-being in individual families. To facilitate implementation, we have established strong working alliances with national stakeholders.