ABSTRACT The present study examined the associations between emerging adults’ perceived parental ... more ABSTRACT The present study examined the associations between emerging adults’ perceived parental psychological control and autonomy support, and their autonomy, relatedness and internalizing difficulties in Italy and the U.S. The participants included 494 Italian and 414 U.S. college students, between 18 and 28 years of age (Mean = 21.58, SD = 2.18). Our findings showed that dependency-oriented psychological control had no significant direct associations with autonomy, relatedness or internalizing difficulties. Moreover, the association between parental autonomy support and internalizing problems was fully intervened by autonomy and relatedness, whereas the association between achievement-oriented psychological control and anxiety and depressive symptoms was partially intervened by autonomy and relatedness. Finally, although parental psychological control and autonomy support had similar effects on maladjustment across the two countries, relatedness appeared to play a more central role as an intervening variable for anxiety in the Italian group than in the U.S. group. Overall, our findings highlighted the importance of examining parents’ contributions to emerging adults’ internalizing problems via autonomy support and psychological control across cultures.
International Journal of Behavioral Development, 2011
The study examined adolescents' emotional separation and detachment from parents, analyzing their... more The study examined adolescents' emotional separation and detachment from parents, analyzing their relations with connectedness and autonomy, some aspects of adolescent's psychological functioning associated to the process of self-other boundary regulation, and psychological well-being. Participants were 331 Italian adolescents, aged from 16 to 19 years (mean age = 17.40, SD = 1.14). Results showed that separation and detachment, positively related to each other, were negatively related to connectedness; detachment was also negatively associated to autonomy. Emotional separation was negatively predicted by empathic concern, perspective taking and separate self; emotional detachment was, instead, negatively predicted by empathic concern and self-other differentiation. Finally, results showed that internalizing and externalizing behaviors were positively predicted by both separation and detachment.
International Journal of Behavioral Development, 2011
The study examined adolescents' emotional separation and detachment from parents, analyzing their... more The study examined adolescents' emotional separation and detachment from parents, analyzing their relations with connectedness and autonomy, some aspects of adolescent's psychological functioning associated to the process of self-other boundary regulation, and psychological well-being. Participants were 331 Italian adolescents, aged from 16 to 19 years (mean age = 17.40, SD = 1.14). Results showed that separation and detachment, positively related to each other, were negatively related to connectedness; detachment was also negatively associated to autonomy. Emotional separation was negatively predicted by empathic concern, perspective taking and separate self; emotional detachment was, instead, negatively predicted by empathic concern and self-other differentiation. Finally, results showed that internalizing and externalizing behaviors were positively predicted by both separation and detachment.
Based on Marcia's identity status model, this cross-sectional study examined adolescents' identit... more Based on Marcia's identity status model, this cross-sectional study examined adolescents' identity formation analyzing its association with time perspective. A sample of 1300 Italian adolescents filled in self-report measures assessing two major developmental processes: identity resolution and time perspective. Adolescents who achieved an integrated identity status seemed to primarily adopt a future time perspective and to have a positive view of the past. By contrast, Diffused adolescents reported negative experiences in the past, a lower future orientation and a greater inclination to fatalism compared to others. The implications of the findings, limitations and suggestions for future theoretical and empirical development of research in this field are discussed.
Based on Marcia's identity status model, this cross-sectional study examined adolescents' identit... more Based on Marcia's identity status model, this cross-sectional study examined adolescents' identity formation analyzing its association with time perspective. A sample of 1300 Italian adolescents filled in self-report measures assessing two major developmental processes: identity resolution and time perspective. Adolescents who achieved an integrated identity status seemed to primarily adopt a future time perspective and to have a positive view of the past. By contrast, Diffused adolescents reported negative experiences in the past, a lower future orientation and a greater inclination to fatalism compared to others. The implications of the findings, limitations and suggestions for future theoretical and empirical development of research in this field are discussed.
Considering the significant negative consequences that are directly related to binge eating and d... more Considering the significant negative consequences that are directly related to binge eating and drinking behaviors, many studies have explored the reasons why adolescents engage in them. This study examined the differences in the development, maintenance, and co-occurrence of “binge” behaviors associated with adolescent’s identity style and the level of commitment. One thousand four hundred Italian adolescents completed self-report measures assessing binge behaviors and identity styles. Overall, results show that diffused adolescents were more likely to be engaged in binge eating and binge drinking behaviors than others,
validating the idea that the achievement of a consolidated ego identity is important for enhancing well-being.
The study examined the association among mothers’ parenting stress, adolescents’ emotional separa... more The study examined the association among mothers’ parenting stress, adolescents’ emotional separation and self-orientation toward connectedness. Participants were 194 Italian adolescents, aged from 15 to 19 years (mean age = 17.39, SD = 1.18), and their mothers, aged from 33 to 64 years (mean age = 44.35, SD = 5.40). General findings showed that adolescents’ emotional separation may not necessarily be associated with their mothers’ parenting stress, but both of these variables may be related to adolescents’ personal characteristics, which may contribute to define parent-child relationship. Particularly, adolescents’ orientation towards a connected self was associated negatively with emotional separation and parenting stress. These findings indicate potential pathways to mitigate the stress in facing the normative challenges of adolescence.
The purpose of this study was to study in deep Detached and Connected adolescents in order to exa... more The purpose of this study was to study in deep Detached and Connected adolescents in order to examine their profiles with regards to internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems. The participants were 705 adolescents (39% males), aged from 14 to 19 years. They were administered (a) the Inclusion of Other in the Self to assess adolescents’ perception of intimacy with parents; (b) the Emotional Autonomy Scale to evaluate adolescents’ emotional autonomy from parents; and (c) the Youth Self-Report to assess internalizing and externalizing problems. On the basis of intimacy and autonomy scores, 129 participants were classified as Detached and 122 as Connected. A cluster analysis was then performed on these adolescents with regards to behavioral problems. Six profiles were obtained: internalizing Detached; externalizing Detached; Detached exhibiting co-occurrence; well-adjusted Detached; well-adjusted Connected; maladjusted Connected.
This cross-sectional study examined binge eating and binge drinking behaviours analysing their as... more This cross-sectional study examined binge eating and binge drinking behaviours analysing their association with the process of identity formation in adolescence and individual tendency towards conformism. The sample consisted of 1500 Italian students (660 boys and 840 girls) attending high school. The average age of the students was 17.31 years (SD ¼ 1.34; range: 17-19). They completed selfreport measures assessing binge behaviours, ego identity status and social conformism. Diffused adolescents were more likely to be engaged in binge eating and binge behaviours than others validating that the achievement of a consolidated ego identity is important for enhancing well-being and preventing problematic outcomes in adolescents. Moreover, adolescents engaging in binge behaviours reported the highest levels of tendency to compare their performances or ideas and opinions with others and to conform with them. The present study suggested that binge behaviours were strongly associated with an adolescent's identity process and have important implications for future empirical investigation and for clinical intervention.
Autonomy and relatedness are fundamental needs both in adolescence and in emerging adulthood whic... more Autonomy and relatedness are fundamental needs both in adolescence and in emerging adulthood which are affected by parental support and are linked to children's psychological distress. The study investigated autonomy and relatedness in late adolescents and emerging adults living in Italy, analyzing the relationships with perceived parental support and psychological distress. Self-report data were collected from a sample of 325 Caucasian adolescents and emerging adults (males = 41%) ranging in age from 17 to 26 years and living in Sicily (southern Italy). Results showed that: (a) both autonomy and relatedness were positively predicted by parental support to these needs, (b) perceived support for autonomy was positively associated with perceived support for relatedness, (c) autonomy and relatedness were positively related to each other for emerging adults, but they were not related for teens, (d) autonomy predicted negatively depression and loneliness, while relatedness predicted negatively externalizing problems (only for adolescents), stress, depression and loneliness. Taken together, the findings confirmed that autonomy and relatedness are fundamental needs for both teens and emerging adults related to parental support and psychological health. Notwithstanding, age moderated some of the investigated relationships suggesting that autonomy and relatedness have different meanings, as well as playing different roles during adolescence and emerging adulthood.
ABSTRACT The present study examined the associations between emerging adults’ perceived parental ... more ABSTRACT The present study examined the associations between emerging adults’ perceived parental psychological control and autonomy support, and their autonomy, relatedness and internalizing difficulties in Italy and the U.S. The participants included 494 Italian and 414 U.S. college students, between 18 and 28 years of age (Mean = 21.58, SD = 2.18). Our findings showed that dependency-oriented psychological control had no significant direct associations with autonomy, relatedness or internalizing difficulties. Moreover, the association between parental autonomy support and internalizing problems was fully intervened by autonomy and relatedness, whereas the association between achievement-oriented psychological control and anxiety and depressive symptoms was partially intervened by autonomy and relatedness. Finally, although parental psychological control and autonomy support had similar effects on maladjustment across the two countries, relatedness appeared to play a more central role as an intervening variable for anxiety in the Italian group than in the U.S. group. Overall, our findings highlighted the importance of examining parents’ contributions to emerging adults’ internalizing problems via autonomy support and psychological control across cultures.
International Journal of Behavioral Development, 2011
The study examined adolescents' emotional separation and detachment from parents, analyzing their... more The study examined adolescents' emotional separation and detachment from parents, analyzing their relations with connectedness and autonomy, some aspects of adolescent's psychological functioning associated to the process of self-other boundary regulation, and psychological well-being. Participants were 331 Italian adolescents, aged from 16 to 19 years (mean age = 17.40, SD = 1.14). Results showed that separation and detachment, positively related to each other, were negatively related to connectedness; detachment was also negatively associated to autonomy. Emotional separation was negatively predicted by empathic concern, perspective taking and separate self; emotional detachment was, instead, negatively predicted by empathic concern and self-other differentiation. Finally, results showed that internalizing and externalizing behaviors were positively predicted by both separation and detachment.
International Journal of Behavioral Development, 2011
The study examined adolescents' emotional separation and detachment from parents, analyzing their... more The study examined adolescents' emotional separation and detachment from parents, analyzing their relations with connectedness and autonomy, some aspects of adolescent's psychological functioning associated to the process of self-other boundary regulation, and psychological well-being. Participants were 331 Italian adolescents, aged from 16 to 19 years (mean age = 17.40, SD = 1.14). Results showed that separation and detachment, positively related to each other, were negatively related to connectedness; detachment was also negatively associated to autonomy. Emotional separation was negatively predicted by empathic concern, perspective taking and separate self; emotional detachment was, instead, negatively predicted by empathic concern and self-other differentiation. Finally, results showed that internalizing and externalizing behaviors were positively predicted by both separation and detachment.
Based on Marcia's identity status model, this cross-sectional study examined adolescents' identit... more Based on Marcia's identity status model, this cross-sectional study examined adolescents' identity formation analyzing its association with time perspective. A sample of 1300 Italian adolescents filled in self-report measures assessing two major developmental processes: identity resolution and time perspective. Adolescents who achieved an integrated identity status seemed to primarily adopt a future time perspective and to have a positive view of the past. By contrast, Diffused adolescents reported negative experiences in the past, a lower future orientation and a greater inclination to fatalism compared to others. The implications of the findings, limitations and suggestions for future theoretical and empirical development of research in this field are discussed.
Based on Marcia's identity status model, this cross-sectional study examined adolescents' identit... more Based on Marcia's identity status model, this cross-sectional study examined adolescents' identity formation analyzing its association with time perspective. A sample of 1300 Italian adolescents filled in self-report measures assessing two major developmental processes: identity resolution and time perspective. Adolescents who achieved an integrated identity status seemed to primarily adopt a future time perspective and to have a positive view of the past. By contrast, Diffused adolescents reported negative experiences in the past, a lower future orientation and a greater inclination to fatalism compared to others. The implications of the findings, limitations and suggestions for future theoretical and empirical development of research in this field are discussed.
Considering the significant negative consequences that are directly related to binge eating and d... more Considering the significant negative consequences that are directly related to binge eating and drinking behaviors, many studies have explored the reasons why adolescents engage in them. This study examined the differences in the development, maintenance, and co-occurrence of “binge” behaviors associated with adolescent’s identity style and the level of commitment. One thousand four hundred Italian adolescents completed self-report measures assessing binge behaviors and identity styles. Overall, results show that diffused adolescents were more likely to be engaged in binge eating and binge drinking behaviors than others,
validating the idea that the achievement of a consolidated ego identity is important for enhancing well-being.
The study examined the association among mothers’ parenting stress, adolescents’ emotional separa... more The study examined the association among mothers’ parenting stress, adolescents’ emotional separation and self-orientation toward connectedness. Participants were 194 Italian adolescents, aged from 15 to 19 years (mean age = 17.39, SD = 1.18), and their mothers, aged from 33 to 64 years (mean age = 44.35, SD = 5.40). General findings showed that adolescents’ emotional separation may not necessarily be associated with their mothers’ parenting stress, but both of these variables may be related to adolescents’ personal characteristics, which may contribute to define parent-child relationship. Particularly, adolescents’ orientation towards a connected self was associated negatively with emotional separation and parenting stress. These findings indicate potential pathways to mitigate the stress in facing the normative challenges of adolescence.
The purpose of this study was to study in deep Detached and Connected adolescents in order to exa... more The purpose of this study was to study in deep Detached and Connected adolescents in order to examine their profiles with regards to internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems. The participants were 705 adolescents (39% males), aged from 14 to 19 years. They were administered (a) the Inclusion of Other in the Self to assess adolescents’ perception of intimacy with parents; (b) the Emotional Autonomy Scale to evaluate adolescents’ emotional autonomy from parents; and (c) the Youth Self-Report to assess internalizing and externalizing problems. On the basis of intimacy and autonomy scores, 129 participants were classified as Detached and 122 as Connected. A cluster analysis was then performed on these adolescents with regards to behavioral problems. Six profiles were obtained: internalizing Detached; externalizing Detached; Detached exhibiting co-occurrence; well-adjusted Detached; well-adjusted Connected; maladjusted Connected.
This cross-sectional study examined binge eating and binge drinking behaviours analysing their as... more This cross-sectional study examined binge eating and binge drinking behaviours analysing their association with the process of identity formation in adolescence and individual tendency towards conformism. The sample consisted of 1500 Italian students (660 boys and 840 girls) attending high school. The average age of the students was 17.31 years (SD ¼ 1.34; range: 17-19). They completed selfreport measures assessing binge behaviours, ego identity status and social conformism. Diffused adolescents were more likely to be engaged in binge eating and binge behaviours than others validating that the achievement of a consolidated ego identity is important for enhancing well-being and preventing problematic outcomes in adolescents. Moreover, adolescents engaging in binge behaviours reported the highest levels of tendency to compare their performances or ideas and opinions with others and to conform with them. The present study suggested that binge behaviours were strongly associated with an adolescent's identity process and have important implications for future empirical investigation and for clinical intervention.
Autonomy and relatedness are fundamental needs both in adolescence and in emerging adulthood whic... more Autonomy and relatedness are fundamental needs both in adolescence and in emerging adulthood which are affected by parental support and are linked to children's psychological distress. The study investigated autonomy and relatedness in late adolescents and emerging adults living in Italy, analyzing the relationships with perceived parental support and psychological distress. Self-report data were collected from a sample of 325 Caucasian adolescents and emerging adults (males = 41%) ranging in age from 17 to 26 years and living in Sicily (southern Italy). Results showed that: (a) both autonomy and relatedness were positively predicted by parental support to these needs, (b) perceived support for autonomy was positively associated with perceived support for relatedness, (c) autonomy and relatedness were positively related to each other for emerging adults, but they were not related for teens, (d) autonomy predicted negatively depression and loneliness, while relatedness predicted negatively externalizing problems (only for adolescents), stress, depression and loneliness. Taken together, the findings confirmed that autonomy and relatedness are fundamental needs for both teens and emerging adults related to parental support and psychological health. Notwithstanding, age moderated some of the investigated relationships suggesting that autonomy and relatedness have different meanings, as well as playing different roles during adolescence and emerging adulthood.
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Papers by Francesca Liga
validating the idea that the achievement of a consolidated ego identity is important for enhancing well-being.
validating the idea that the achievement of a consolidated ego identity is important for enhancing well-being.