Parental Overprotection and Youth Anger Expression: The Mediating Role of Experiential Avoidance
Keywords:
Parental overprotection, experiential avoidance, anger expression, adolescentsAbstract
Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the mediating role of experiential avoidance in the relationship between parental overprotection and anger expression among adolescents and young adults.
Methods and Materials: This study used a descriptive–correlational design with a sample of 400 adolescents and young adults from Turkey, determined using the Krejcie and Morgan sampling table. Participants completed the State–Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2 (STAXI-2) to assess anger expression, the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II) to measure experiential avoidance, and the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) to assess parental overprotection. Data were analyzed using SPSS-27 for descriptive and correlational analyses, and AMOS-21 for structural equation modeling (SEM).
Findings: The results indicated that parental overprotection was positively correlated with both experiential avoidance (r = .42, p < .001) and anger expression (r = .39, p < .001). Experiential avoidance was also positively correlated with anger expression (r = .46, p < .001). SEM analyses revealed that parental overprotection significantly predicted experiential avoidance (b = 0.47, β = .42, p < .001), and experiential avoidance significantly predicted anger expression (b = 0.62, β = .44, p < .001). The direct path from parental overprotection to anger expression was significant (b = 0.28, β = .21, p < .001), and the indirect effect through experiential avoidance was also significant (b = 0.29, β = .18, p < .001).
Conclusion: The findings suggest that experiential avoidance partially mediates the relationship between parental overprotection and anger expression, highlighting avoidance as a key transdiagnostic mechanism.
Downloads
References
Basharpoor, S., Ahmadi, S., & Heidari, F. (2024). The Model of Structural Relationships of the Role of Parenting Styles and Intolerance of Uncertainty in Internet Addiction Tendency With the Mediation of Experiential Avoidance in Adolescents. Shenakht Journal of Psychology and Psychiatry, 73-86. https://doi.org/10.32598/shenakht.10.5.73
Castilho, P., Martins, M. J., Pinto, A. M., Viegas, R. G., Carvalho, S. A., & Madeira, N. (2017). Understanding the Effect of Attachment Styles in Paranoid Ideation: The Mediator Role of Experiential Avoidance. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 6(1), 42-46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2016.11.007
Crisan, S. M., & Nechita, D. (2021). Maladaptive Emotion Regulation Strategies and Trait Anger as Predictors of Depression Severity. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 29(3), 1135-1143. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2702
Cunha, M., Galhardo, A., & Pinto‐Gouveia, J. (2016). Experiential Avoidance, Self-Compassion, Self-Judgment and Coping Styles in Infertility. Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare, 10, 41-47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.srhc.2016.04.001
Grădinaru, D., Constantin, T., & Candel, O. S. (2022). Anger and Emotion Regulation in Interpersonal and Intrapersonal Contexts: A Systematic Review. Psya, 31, 43-70. https://doi.org/10.47743/psya-2022-03
Holman, A. C., & Popușoi, S. A. (2020). How You Deal With Your Emotions Is How You Drive. Emotion Regulation Strategies, Traffic Offenses, and the Mediating Role of Driving Styles. Sustainability, 12(12), 4929. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12124929
Leal, M., Adan, M., Heilman, K. J., & Cockcroft, K. (2023). Cardiac Regulation, Attachment Style, and Frustration Tolerance in Children With Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/5j3g2
Lee, E. S., & Bong, E. J. (2015). Impact of Childhood Trauma and Parents' Problem Drinking on Problem Drinking of Their University Student Children: Mediating Effects of Experiential Avoidance. Journal of Korean Academy of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 24(3), 207. https://doi.org/10.12934/jkpmhn.2015.24.3.207
Lewis, M. M., & Loverich, T. M. (2019). Measuring Experiential Avoidance and Posttraumatic Stress in Families. Behavioral Sciences, 9(10), 104. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs9100104
Lin, W., Liang, H., Jiang, H., Nasir, M. A. M., & Zhou, H. (2023). Why Is Smartphone Addiction More Common in Adolescents With Harsh Parenting? Depression and Experiential Avoidance‘s Multiple Mediating Roles. Psychology research and behavior management, Volume 16, 4817-4828. https://doi.org/10.2147/prbm.s428167
Long, H., & Prikhidko, A. (2024). The Mediating Effect of Emotion Regulation Between Intensive Parenting Attitudes and Parental Anger. The Family Journal. https://doi.org/10.1177/10664807241257483
Messina, I., Spataro, P., Sorella, S., & Grecucci, A. (2023). “Holding in Anger” as a Mediator in the Relationship Between Attachment Orientations and Borderline Personality Features. Brain Sciences, 13(6), 878. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13060878
Meydani, F. N., Vand, H. D. A., Abasi, I., & Noori, M. (2022). Mediating Role of Difficulties in Emotion Regulation and Experiential Avoidance in the Relationship Between Attachment Styles and Severity of Relationship Obsessive -Compulsive Disorder Symptoms. Iranian Journal of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, 28(03), 328-345. https://doi.org/10.32598/ijpcp.28.3.4175.1
Mounts, N. S., & Allen, C. C. (2019). Parenting Styles and Practices. 40-56. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190638696.013.4
Rehman, I., & Asghar, M. (2015). Effects of Attachment Styles on Adolescents. Peshawar Journal of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences (Pjpbs), 1(1), 15-31. https://doi.org/10.32879/pjpbs.2015.1.1.15-31
Shi, R., Wang, K. T., Xie, Z., Zhang, R., & Liu, C. (2019). The Mediating Role of Friendship Quality in the Relationship Between Anger Coping Styles and Mental Health in Chinese Adolescents. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 36(11-12), 3796-3813. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407519839146
Stone, M., McDonald, F. E. J., Kangas, M., Sherman, K. A., & Allison, K. R. (2024). Bereavement Guilt Among Young Adults Impacted by Caregivers’ Cancer: Associations With Attachment Style, Experiential Avoidance, and Psychological Flexibility. Palliative & Supportive Care, 22(6), 1998-2006. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1478951524000932
Trincas, R., Bilotta, E., & Mancini, F. (2016). Specific Beliefs About Emotions Are Associated With Different Emotion-Regulation Strategies. Psychology, 07(13), 1682-1699. https://doi.org/10.4236/psych.2016.713159
Wan, K. P., & Savina, E. (2015). Emotion Regulation Strategies in European American and Hong Kong Chinese Middle School Children. Contemporary School Psychology, 20(2), 152-159. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40688-015-0059-5
Wang, J., & Fang, S. (2024). The Mechanism Behind Mother’s Negative Parenting Style on College Students’ Emotional Health. Psychologia. https://doi.org/10.2117/psysoc.2022-a207
Wolk, C. B., Caporino, N. E., McQuarrie, S. C., Settipani, C. A., Podell, J. L., Crawley, S. A., Beidas, R. S., & Kendall, P. C. (2016). Parental Attitudes, Beliefs, and Understanding of Anxiety (PABUA): Development and Psychometric Properties of a Measure. Journal of anxiety disorders, 39, 71-78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2016.03.001
Xu, C., & Yan, W. (2022). Negative Parenting Styles and Social Adjustment of University Students: A Moderated Chain Mediation Model. Current Psychology, 42(31), 27719-27732. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-03809-1
Yoo, D., & Córdova, J. V. (2022). “Is Intimacy Contagious?” Intimate Safety With Parents as a Key to Emerging Adults' Social Connectedness. Family Relations, 72(4), 2234-2250. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12803
Zhang, N., Hoch, J., Gewirtz, A. H., Barnes, A. J., & Snyder, J. (2019). Vagal Suppression Moderates the Relationship Between Psychological Flexibility and Observed Parenting in Combat Deployed Fathers. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/c8awh
Zhang, Y. (2024). Relationship Between Parental Psychological Control and Depression Among Middle School Students: A Moderated Mediation Model. Advances in Education Humanities and Social Science Research, 12(1), 807. https://doi.org/10.56028/aehssr.12.1.807.2024
Downloads
Additional Files
Published
Submitted
Revised
Accepted
Issue
Section
How to Cite
