Affiliation:
1. Social Sciences Department Chatham University Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USA
2. Department of Psychiatry University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USA
Abstract
AbstractIntroductionDespite the clinical relevance, little is known about variability in positive adult outcomes (i.e., flourishing, life satisfaction) of female adolescent conduct problems (CP), or interpersonal factors that promote these types of well‐being. We hypothesized differential associations between adolescent CP trajectories and indicators of adult well‐being due to level of positive relationships with caregivers during ages 12−17.MethodData were drawn from participants (N = 1965) of the Pittsburgh Girls Study, a longitudinal study of girls' development. Caregiver reported CP, adolescent reports of parental trust and positive parenting, and adolescent‐reported peer delinquency were assessed annually between ages 12−17. Well‐being in young adulthood was measured using self‐reported flourishing and life satisfaction between ages 18−22.ResultsLatent class growth analysis of adolescent CP revealed four trajectories characterized as low stable (20.0%), moderate stable (63.9%), adolescent‐onset (8.1%), and high quadratic (8.0%). Main effects of trust and positive relationships with caregivers during adolescence on well‐being in early adulthood were found. Positive parenting was found to moderate the association between CP trajectory and flourishing. The magnitude of the negative association between the high quadratic trajectory group and life satisfaction decreased as positive parenting increased.ConclusionThese results support the importance of intervention in adolescence to focus on increasing trusting and positive relationships with caregivers for all females, as this may increase well‐being in adulthood regardless of adolescent CP history.
Funder
National Institute on Drug Abuse
National Institute of Mental Health
Subject
Psychiatry and Mental health,Developmental and Educational Psychology,Social Psychology,Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health