Maternal support and deviance among rural adolescents: The mediating role of self‐esteem. (22nd September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Dan; Ksinan, Albert J.; Vazsonyi, Alexander T.
• Is Part Of: Journal of adolescence. Volume 69(2018)
• Page Start: 62
• Page End: 71
• Publication Date: 2018-09-22
• Subjects: Maternal support -- Self‐esteem -- Deviance -- Rural youth -- Mediation -- Moderation; Adolescent psychiatry -- Periodicals; Adolescent psychology -- Periodicals; Adolescence -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 305.23505
• DOI: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2018.09.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0140-1971

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Introduction: Supportive mothering buffers against adolescent deviance, but the precise mechanisms underlying this relationship are poorly understood. The current investigation tested the extent to which self‐esteem mediated the maternal support‐deviance link and whether it varied by adolescent age and sex. Methods: Data were collected from 911 middle and high school students in the rural South (53.6% female, M age = 14.70 years). Main model tests were completed in SEM. Results: Results indicated that maternal support and self‐esteem were positively associated and negatively to deviance, and that self‐esteem mediated the support‐deviance link. These associations did not differ by adolescent age. However, moderating effects by sex were significant, where maternal support had a greater effect on girls' self‐esteem, while self‐esteem had a greater effect on boys' deviance. Conclusions: Findings provide some evidence of how maternal support is associated with a positive self‐concept that in turn decreases the likelihood of engaging in deviant behaviors.