(PS10-C54) Emotional Clarity on Parent-child Discrepancies of Self Reported Parenting Style

Introduction: Copious amounts of research have shown that negative parenting practices are connected to various offspring's emotional and behavioral difficulties. Parental support (positive parenting strategies) has been linked to emotional well-being, as well as inconsistent discipline/poor supervision (negative parenting strategies) to increased psychopathology in adolescents. Parents and their offspring frequently disagree in their perceptions of parenting practices, and when exacerbated, evidence suggests such discrepancies to predict negative emotional outcomes. However, emotional clarity, or the ability to identify one’s emotional state, when examined in both parents and children, may predict intensities of discrepancy between the two. Further, emotional clarity may elucidate the present relationship, acting as a protective factor for both parents and their children. Thus, the current study aimed to investigate the relationship between emotional clarity of both parent and offspring and its effect on discrepant reports of parenting practices.

Methods: Thirty-eight parent-child dyads (adolescent: 46% Female, Mage=14.6, parent:Mage=44.06) completed an eight-day ecological momentary assessment (EMA) period in which their average levels of emotional clarity were ascertained five times daily via a 5-point Likert scale. In tandem, and as part of a multi-method protocol, adolescents and parents completed various self report measures one of which being the Alabama Parenting Questionnaire-Short Form (APQ). The APQ assesses three forms of parenting styles: positive parenting, inconsistent discipline, and poor supervision; the latter two indicative of negative parenting practices. Regression analyses were employed to examine the present relationships. Demographic characteristics served as covariates where warranted.

Results: Parent’s perceived emotional clarity was negatively related to discrepancies on positive parenting styles (b=-1.75, p=.01), and child’s clarity did not significantly predict discrepant reports. Conversely, child’s clarity negatively predicted discrepant reports on poor supervisory parenting styles (b=-1.42, p< .001) and parent’s clarity did not yield a significant relationship. Perceived emotional clarity illustrated no relationship with discrepant reports for inconsistent discipline for either parents or adolescents. 

Discussion: The present results suggest that emotional clarity’s effect on discrepant reporting holds across positive and negative parenting styles, further suggesting a relationship between clarity and perceived support, both from the parent and child's viewpoint. Results may suggest that parents tend to maintain their clarity of positive parenting practices, while children maintain their clarity in regard to negative parenting practices. Clinical implications will be discussed.