(PS8-A7) Differential Perspectives of Parent Emotion Socialization as Predictors of Adolescent Internalizing Symptoms

Parent emotion socialization, particularly parent reactions to negative emotions, is an important family factor implicated in adolescent internalizing disorders (Eisenberg, 2020). Although a multi-method assessment of parent emotion socialization is preferred, there is often low concordance across adolescent, parent, and observational measures (Klimes-Dougan, et al., 2007; Cui, et al., 2020). In both research and clinical contexts, it is important to understand how different perspectives of parenting may relate to youth psychopathology (De Los Reyes, 2013). The present study is the first to examine whether distinct measures of parent emotion socialization are differentially related to adolescent internalizing problems. 

A community sample of 92 adolescents (ages 13-17; 44.6% female; 78% White) participated along with a parent (87% mothers). Parent supportive and nonsupportive reactions were measured based on coded observations during a  conflict discussion task, adolescent perception of the parent during the task, and parent and adolescent reports on the CCNES rating scale (Fabes, et al., 1990; Fabes, et al., 1998). Parent report on the Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale (Chorpita, et al., 2000) measured adolescent internalizing symptoms. 

Adolescent internalizing problems was significantly correlated with adolescent CCNES ratings of lower parent supportive (r = -.25, p < .05) and higher nonsupportive reactions (r = .27, p < .01); observed parent reactions, adolescent perception during the conflict discussion, and parent CCNES ratings were not significantly correlated with adolescent internalizing problems (ps > .07). Adolescent perception of supportive reactions during the conflict discussion was significantly correlated with observed supportive reactions (r = .36, p < .01) and adolescent-rated CCNES supportive reactions (r = .52, p < .001). Adolescent perception of nonsupportive reactions during the conflict discussion was significantly correlated with adolescent-rated CCNES nonsupportive reactions (r = .42, p < .001). There were no other significant correlations between parent emotion socialization measures. 

Adolescent rating of their parent’s reactions on the CCNES was the only measure to significantly correlate with youth internalizing symptoms. Thus, adolescent perception, a subjective measure, may be more predictive of internalizing symptoms than other measures, including objective observation. Future research should explore whether a similar pattern emerges in clinical populations. Generally, agreement across measures of parent emotion socialization was low, suggesting measures provide distinct, rather than convergent, information about parent reactions. Therefore, researchers and clinicians should strive to include multiple perspectives of parent emotion socialization and should attend to differences in perception and context when interpreting parent-child dynamics and how they affect adolescent psychopathology.