Psychological Development and Education ›› 2025, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (4): 539-549.doi: 10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2025.04.10

Previous Articles    

The Relationship between Parenting Self-efficacy and Adolescent Anxiety: The Mediating Roles of Overparenting and Parent-child Conflict

WANG Lingfei1,2, ZHANG Mingming3,4,5, YUAN Keman3,4,5, BIAN Yufang3,4,5   

  1. 1. Institute of Mental Health, Nanjing Xiaozhuang University, Nanjing 210017;
    2. Nanjing Institute of Minor Mental Health Research, Nanjing 210017;
    3. Collaborative Innovation Center of Assessment toward Basic Education Quality, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875;
    4. Child and Family Education Research Center, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875;
    5. Institute of Mental Health and Education, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875
  • Published:2025-07-12

PDF (PC)

Abstract: A two-year longitudinal study (T1 at 8th grade and T2 at 9th grade) surveyed 1,788 eighth-grade students and their parents from 13 secondary schools in Beijing using convenience sampling to examine the association between parenting self-efficacy (PSE) and adolescent anxiety, and the roles of overparenting and parent-child conflict. Results showed a significant negative correlation between PSE and adolescent anxiety, both immediately and one year later. At T1, overparenting and parent-child conflict fully mediated the relationship between PSE and adolescent anxiety, with three mediating pathways, including the effect of overparenting, parent-child conflict, and chain mediation. Overparenting was also a full mediator between PSE at T1 and adolescent anxiety at T2, while the mediating effect of parent-child conflict was not significant. Additionally, the study revealed the correlation of paternal parenting efficacy with adolescent anxiety differed from that of maternal parenting efficacy. The research results have revealed the relationship between PSE and adolescent anxiety, as well as the underlying mechanisms involved. These findings provide valuable insights for reducing adolescent anxiety.

Key words: parenting self-efficacy, anxiety, overparenting, parent-child conflict, adolescent

CLC Number: 

  • B844
Albanese, A. M., Russo, G. R., & Geller, P. A. (2019). The role of parental self-efficacy in parent and child well-being:A systematic review of associated outcomes. Child:Care, Health and Development, 45(3), 333-363.
Aminayi, M., Roshan Chesli, R., Shairi, M. R., & Moharreri, F. (2015). Comparative study of parenting styles and parenting self-efficacy in mothers of children with and without anxiety symptoms. Journal of Fundamentals of Mental Health, 17(4), 109+187-191.
Ardelt, M., & Eccles, J. S. (2001). Effects of mothers' parental efficacy beliefs and promotive parenting strategies on inner-city youth.Journal of Family Issues, 22(8), 944-972.
Bor, W., & Sanders, M. R. (2004). Correlates of self-reported coercive parenting of preschool-aged children at high risk for the development of conduct problems. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 38(9), 738-745.
Bornstein, M. H. (2015). Children's parents. In R. M. Lerner (Series Ed.), M. H. Bornstein, & T. Leventhal (Vol. Eds.), Handbook of child psychology and developmental science:Vol. 4.Ecological settings and processes in developmental systems (pp. 55-132). Hoboken, NJ:Wiley.
Bornstein, M. H., Putnick, D. L., & Suwalsky, J. T. (2018).Parenting cognitions→ parenting practices→ child adjustment? The standard model. Development and Psychopathology, 30(2), 399-416.
Bowen, M. (1976). Theory in the practice of psychotherapy. In P. J. Guerin (Ed.):Family therapy:Theory and practice (pp. 42-90). New York:Gardner Press.
Bowlby, J. (1977). The making and breaking of affectional bonds:I. Aetiology and psychopathology in the light of attachment theory.The British Journal of Psychiatry, 130(3), 201-210.
Breinholst, S., Tolstrup, M., & Esbjørn, B. H. (2019). The direct and indirect effect of attachment insecurity and negative parental behavior on anxiety in clinically anxious children:It's down to dad. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 24(1), 44-50.
Bugental, D. B., & Johnston, C. (2000). Parental and child cognitions in the context of the family.Annual Review of Psychology, 51(1), 315-344.
Chung, G. H., Flook, L., & Fuligni, A. J. (2011). Reciprocal associations between family and peer conflict in adolescents' daily lives. Child Development, 82(5), 1390-1396.
Cohen, J. (1988).Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences (2nd Ed.). Routledge.
Coleman, P. K., & Karraker, K. H. (2000). Parenting self-efficacy among mothers of school-age children:Conceptualization, measurement, and correlates.Family Relations, 49(1), 13-24.
Collins, W. A., & Madsen, S. D. (2019). Parenting during middle childhood. In Handbook of parenting Volume I (pp. 81-110). Routledge.
Cox, M. J., & Paley, B. (1997). Families as systems.Annual Review of Psychology, 48(1), 243-267.
Crnic, K., & Ross, E. (2017). Parenting stress and parental efficacy. In Parental stress and early child development (pp. 263-284). Springer, Cham.
Cui, M., Janhonen-Abruquah, H., Darling, C. A., Carlos Chavez, F. L., & Palojoki, P. (2019). Helicopter parenting and young adults' well-being:A comparison between United States and Finland.Cross-Cultural Research, 53(4), 410-427.
Curran, T., Worwood, J., & Smart, J. (2019). Cognitive flexibility and generalized anxiety symptoms:The mediating role of destructive parent-child conflict communication. Communication Reports, 32(2), 57-68.
Darling, N., & Steinberg, L. (1993). Parenting Style as Context:An Integrative Model. Psychological Bulletin, 113(3), 487-496.
de Lijster, J. M., Dieleman, G. C., Utens, E. M., Dierckx, B., Wierenga, M., Verhulst, F. C., & Legerstee, J. S. (2018). Social and academic functioning in adolescents with anxiety disorders:A systematic review. Journal of Affective Disorders, 230, 108-117.
Dekovic, M. (1999). Parent-adolescent conflict:Possible determinants and consequences.International Journal of Behavioral Development, 23(4), 977-1000.
Dorsey, S., Klein, K., Forehand, R., & Family Health Project Research Group. (1999). Parenting self-efficacy of HIV infected mothers:The role of social support. Journal of Marriage and Family, 61, 295-305.
Dumka, L. E., Gonzales, N. A., Wheeler, L. A., & Millsap, R. E. (2010). Parenting self-efficacy and parenting practices over time in Mexican American families. Journal of Family Psychology, 24(5), 522-531.
Erikson, E. H. (1968). Identity:Youth and crisis. W.W. Norton & company.
Gagnon, R. J., & Garst, B. A. (2019). Examining overparenting and child gender in adolescence.Journal of Child and Family Studies, 28(10), 2876-2890.
Harpaz, G., Grinshtain, Y., & Yaffe, Y. (2021). Parental self-efficacy predicted byparents' subjective well-being and their parenting styles with possible role of help-seeking orientation from teachers. The Journal of Psychology, 155(6), 571-587.
Herren, C., In-Albon, T., & Schneider, S. (2013). Beliefs regarding child anxiety and parenting competence in parents of children with separation anxiety disorder.Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 44(1), 53-60.
Hu, X., Han, Z. R., Bai, L., & Gao, M. M. (2019). The mediating role of parenting stress in the relations between parental emotion regulation and parenting behaviors in Chinese families of children with autism spectrum disorders:A dyadic analysis.Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 49(10), 3983-3998.
Izzo, C., Weiss, L., Shanahan, T., & Rodriguez-Brown, F. (2000). Parental self-efficacy and social support as predictors of parenting practices and children's socioemotional adjustment in Mexican immigrant families. Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community, 20(1-2), 197-213.
Johnston, C., & Mash, E. J. (1989). A measure of parenting satisfaction and efficacy. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 18(2), 167-175.
Jones, T. L., & Prinz, R. J. (2005). Potential roles of parental self-efficacy in parent and child adjustment:A review. Clinical Psychology Review, 25(3), 341-363.
Junttila, N., Vauras, M., & Laakkonen, E. (2007). The role of parenting self-efficacy in children social and academic behavior. European Journal of Psychology of Education, 22(1), 41-61.
Lamis, D. A., & Jahn, D. R. (2013). Parent-child conflict and suicide rumination in college students:The mediating roles of depressive symptoms and anxiety sensitivity. Journal of American College Health, 61(2), 106-113.
Lee, I. S., & Jeon, J. H. (2021). Influence of parenting efficacy, parenting stress, and acculturation stress on parent-child relations among North Korean refugee mothers.Child Health Nursing Research, 27(2), 171-180.
LeMoyne, T., & Buchanan, T. (2011). Does "hovering" matter? Helicopter parenting and its effect on well-being.Sociological Spectrum, 31(4), 399-418.
Leung, J. T. Y. (2021). Overparenting, parent-child conflict and anxiety among Chinese adolescents:A cross-lagged panel study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(22), 11887.https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182211887
Leung, J. T., Shek, D. T., Fung, A. L., & Leung, G. S. (2021). Perceived overparenting and developmental outcomes among Chinese adolescents:Do family structure and conflicts matter?Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 38(2), 742-764.
Love, H., Cui, M., Allen, J. W., Fincham, F. D., & May, R. W. (2020). Helicopter parenting and female university students' anxiety:Does parents' gender matter? Families, Relationships and Societies, 9(3), 417-430.
Luebbe, A. M., Mancini, K. J., Kiel, E. J., Spangler, B. R., Semlak, J. L., & Fussner, L. M. (2018). Dimensionality of helicopter parenting and relations to emotional, decision-making, and academic functioning in emerging adults. Assessment, 25(7), 841-857.
Miano, P., & Palumbo, A. (2021).Overparenting hurts me:how does it affect offspring psychological outcomes? Mediterranean Journal of Clinical Psychology, 9(3), 1-32.
Moos, R. H., & Moos, B. S. (1976). A typology of family social environments.Family Process, 15(4), 357-371.
Moriarty, E. A. (2011).Relationship of helicopter parenting on autonomy development in first-year college students (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Johnson & Wales University, Providence.
Murdock, K. W. (2013). An examination of parenting self-efficacy among mothers and fathers. Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 14(3), 314-323.
Nelson, L. J., Padilla-Walker, L. M., & Nielson, M. G. (2015). Is hovering smothering or loving? An examination of parental warmth as a moderator of relationsbetween helicopter parenting and emerging adults' indices of adjustment. Emerging Adulthood, 3(4), 282-285.
Oshino, S., Suzuki, A., Ishii, G., & Otani, K. (2007). Influences of parental rearing on the personality traits of healthy Japanese.Comprehensive Psychiatry, 48(5), 465-469.
Padilla-Walker, L. M., & Nelson, L. J. (2012). Black hawk down?:Establishing helicopter parenting as a distinct construct from other forms of parental control during emerging adulthood. Journal of Adolescence, 35(5), 1177-1190.
Palkovitz, R., Trask, B. S., & Adamsons, K. (2014). Essential differences in the meaning and processes of mothering and fathering:Family systems, feminist and qualitative perspectives.Journal of Family Theory and Review, 6(4), 406-420.
Reyhing, Y., & Perren, S. (2021). Self-efficacy in early childhood education and care:What predicts patterns of stability and change in educator self-efficacy?Frontiers in Education, 6, 634275.https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2021.634275
Reynolds, C. R., & Richmond, B. O. (1978). What I think and feel:A revised measure of children's manifest anxiety. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 6(2), 271-280.
Robin, A. L., & Foster, S. L. (2002).Negotiating parent-adolescent conflict:A behavioral-family systems approach. Guilford Press.
Roest, A. M., Martens, E. J., de Jonge, P., & Denollet, J. (2010). Anxiety and risk of incident coronary heart disease:A meta-analysis.Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 56(1), 38-46.
Rominov, H., Giallo, R., & Whelan, T. A. (2016). Fathers' postnatal distress, parenting self-efficacy, later parenting behavior, and children's emotional-behavioral functioning:A longitudinal study.Journal of Family Psychology, 30(8), 907-917.
Schuengel, C., & Oosterman, M. (2019). Parenting self-efficacy. In Handbook of parenting (pp. 654-680). Routledge.
Segrin, C., Woszidlo, A., Givertz, M., Bauer, A., & Taylor Murphy, M. (2012). The association between overparenting, parent-child communication, and entitlement and adaptive traits in adult children. Family Relations, 61(2), 237-252.
Shim, S. Y., & Lim, S. A. (2019). Paternal self-efficacy, fathering, and children's behavioral problems in Korea.Journal of Child and Family Studies, 28(3), 851-859.
Sims, D. C., & Skarbek, A. J. (2019). Parental Self-efficacy:A concept analysis related to teen parenting and implications for school nurses. The Journal of School Nursing, 35(1), 8-14.
Strang, K. R. (2015). The relationship between overparenting, parenting style, and anxiety in parents of school-aged children (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.
Weymouth, B. B., Buehler, C., Zhou, N., & Henson, R. A. (2016). A meta-analysis of parent-adolescent conflict:Disagreement, hostility, and youth maladjustment. Journal of Family Theory and Review, 8(1), 95-112.
Winner, N. A., & Nicholson, B. C. (2018).Overparenting and narcissism in young adults:The mediating role of psychological control. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 27(11), 3650-3657.
Woodward, L. J., & Fergusson, D. M. (2001). Life course outcomes of young people with anxiety disorders in adolescence.Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 40(9), 1086-1093.
董奇, 林崇德. (2011). 中国6~15岁儿童青少年心理发育关键指标与测评. 北京:科学出版社.
杜宜展, 付鑫. (2021). 亲子关系中的过度教养探析. 教育导刊, (01), 75-80.
杜雨茜, 左志宏. (2021). 3~6岁幼儿父母教养效能感类别及与亲子关系的联系——基于一孩父母和二孩父母的潜在剖面分析. 幼儿教育, (Z3), 65-70.
方晓义, 董奇. (1998). 初中一、二年级学生的亲子冲突. 心理科学, 21(02), 122-125+191.
高慧敏, 李非, 钱英. (2020). 儿童青少年心理健康中的父亲参与(综述). 中国心理卫生杂志, 34(08), 662-666.
黄潇潇, 张亚利, 俞国良. (2022). 2010~2020中国内地小学生心理健康问题检出率的元分析. 心理科学进展, 30(05), 953-964.
鞠佳雯, 梁丽婵, 边玉芳. (2018). 消极家庭情绪表露与初中生焦虑的关系:亲子冲突和消极应对的多重中介作用. 中国临床心理学杂志, 26(05), 956-959+943.
李甜甜, 顾吉有, 徐鹤文. (2021). 父亲抑郁对幼儿问题行为的影响:教养效能感和教养方式的中介作用. 心理与行为研究, 19(1), 66-73.
梁宗保, 吴安莲, 张光珍. (2022). 父母消极养育方式与学前儿童社会适应问题的关系:亲子冲突的中介作用. 学前教育研究, (03), 43-52.
林崇德. (2018). 发展心理学. 北京:人民教育出版社.
彭女贞. (2018). 父母教养效能感和亲子关系对幼儿入园社会适应行为的影响(硕士学位论文). 上海师范大学.
彭咏梅. (2012). 父母教养自我效能感与小学生问题行为的关系:教养方式的中介作用(硕士学位论文). 中南大学, 长沙.
石耀慧, 麻超. (2021). 特质焦虑对中学生学业成绩的影响:生命意义感和自我控制的中介作用. 中国特殊教育, (10), 77-84.
孙丽萍, 鞠佳雯, 蒋柳青, 边玉芳. (2018). 父母心理控制与青少年焦虑的关系:一项交叉滞后研究. 心理发展与教育, 34(6), 758-768.
王莉. (2005). 国外父亲教养方式研究的现状和趋势. 心理科学进展, 13(03), 290-297.
王美萍, 张文新. (2007). 青少年期亲子冲突与亲子亲合的发展特征. 心理科学, 30(05), 1196-1198.
王小平, 张平俊. (2004). "初二现象"成因透视及其教育策略. 成都教育学院学报, 18(08), 68-70.
王歆逸, 刘思含, 伍新春. (2022). 父母过度教养和亲子冲突与青少年抑郁的关系及发展性差异. 应用心理学, 29(1), 071-079.
王旭, 刘衍玲, 林杰, 刘传星, 魏灵真, 邱涵宇. (2022). 亲子关系对中学生心理健康的影响:社会支持和心理素质的链式中介作用. 心理发展与教育, 38(2), 263-271.
吴旻, 胡思远, 周欣然, 边玉芳. (2021). 初中生家庭支持、亲子冲突与主观幸福感的相互作用:一项交叉滞后分析. 中国临床心理学杂志, 29(04), 808-813.
吴旻, 刘争光, 梁丽婵. (2016). 亲子关系对儿童青少年心理发展的影响. 北京师范大学学报(社会科学版), (05), 55-63.
徐梦雪, 张莉. (2017). 直升机教养:内涵、源起、影响与发展. 上海教育科研, (03), 15-20.
杨菲, 吴鑫德. (2014). 父母教养方式、亲子冲突与初中女生抑郁焦虑的关系. 中国健康心理学杂志, 22(09), 1418-1420.
于晓琪, 张亚利, 俞国良. (2022). 2010~2020中国内地高中生心理健康问题检出率的元分析. 心理科学进展, 30(05), 978-990.
张亚利, 靳娟娟, 俞国良. (2022). 2010~2020中国内地初中生心理健康问题检出率的元分析. 心理科学进展, 30(05), 965-977.
赵凤青, 程贝贝, 李奕萱, 刘志斌, 刘兵, 张宝山. (2022). 核心家庭父亲协同教养对青少年抑郁的影响:父子依恋和母子依恋的中介作用. 心理发展与教育, 38(1), 109-117.
中国青少年心理健康调查课题组. (2013). 中国青少年心理健康报告. 北京:中国科学技术出版社.
[1] ZHANG Feng, HUANG Silin, MEI Kehan, ZHANG Jiatian, DENG Yiyi. The Effects of Social Mobility Beliefs on Academic Persistence of Chinese Rural Adolescents in Areas out of Povery: The Moderating Role of Academic Coping Strategies [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2025, 41(4): 510-517.
[2] PENG Daju, CHENG Cheng, GUO Peiyang, XU Yang. A Common Factor Model of Callous-unemotional Traits and Borderline Personality Traits in Adolescents: A Cross-lagged Study [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2025, 41(4): 528-538.
[3] MA Min, LEI Yuan, ZHANG Li. Bidirectional Relationships between Teacher-student Relationships and Children’s Math Anxiety: A Longitudinal Study [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2025, 41(3): 377-385.
[4] LUO Yuhan, XU Zijing, ZHOU Qing, YANG Zhengqian, KE Li, WANG Yun, CHEN Fumei. Adolescent Fast Life History Strategy and Its Behavioral Outcomes under COVID-19-related Stressors [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2025, 41(3): 398-409.
[5] LIU Caimeng, YUAN Guangzhe, DING Xu, FUNG Hongwang, HUANG Mingyu, LIN Jinqi. Longitudinal Relationship between Anxiety Symptoms and Problematic Smartphone Use among Chinese Junior High School Students: The Serial Mediating Role of Fear of Missing Out and Intolerance of Uncertainty [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2025, 41(3): 427-435.
[6] ZENG Zihao, HU Yiqiu, LIU Shuangjin, PENG Liyi, YANG Qin, WANG Hongcai, HE Zhen, YAO Xingxing. School Interpersonal Relationship and Cumulative Polygenic Genetic Risk of Serotonin System on Adolescent Depression [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2025, 41(3): 436-447.
[7] YANG Ling, LI Na, ZHANG Yang, SHI Linping, ZHANG Mingfei, WU Jiangkun. Sensitivity and Attention Avoidance of Left Behind Adolescents to Negative Evaluation of Others [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2025, 41(2): 185-195.
[8] GAO Yemiao, BAI Rong, LI Jinwen, WANG Hui, LIU Xia. The Longitudinal Effect of Harsh Parenting on Problem Behaviors of Left-behind Adolescents in Single-parent Custody [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2025, 41(2): 245-255.
[9] ZENG Chengwei, ZHANG Bin, ZHANG Anqi, ZENG Yixin, DAI Huifeng, XIONG Sicheng, WANG Yanan, YANG Ying. Longitudinal Effects of School Connectedness on Adolescent Smartphone Addiction: The Mediation of Social Anxiety and Moderation of Parent-adolescent Attachment [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2025, 41(2): 256-264.
[10] XIANG Shuoqi, LI Yadan, YE Chaoqun, YANG Weixing, GUO Xipei, ZHANG Lingling, HU Weiping. The Relationship between Creativity Anxiety and Real-life Creativity: Chain Mediating Effects of Cognitive Flexibility and Creative Process Engagement [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2025, 41(1): 32-41.
[11] ZHOU Ziyan, HU Xiao, ZHANG Yilin, SU Ruilin, XIN Sufei, SHENG Liang. The Relationship between Negative Life Events and Internet Addiction in Junior Middle School Students: The Roles of Social Anxiety and Boredom Proneness [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2025, 41(1): 109-116.
[12] LI Xiaoming, MENG Yuan, YANG Zhiqing, LIU Xiaodan. The Influence of Awe on Aggressive Behavior among Adolescents: Peer Relationship as a Moderator [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2025, 41(1): 117-125.
[13] GU Honglei, HUANG Jia, LI Jiacheng. Identity Confusion and Adolescent Non-suicidal Self-injury: The Mediating Role of Alienation and the Moderating Role of Difficulties in Emotional Regulation [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2025, 41(1): 126-134.
[14] ZENG Zihao, HU Yiqiu, PENG Liyi, LIU Xiuru, HE Zhen, ZHAO Lili, YAO Xingxing. The Effect of Defeat on Adolescent Mental Health: The Role of Perceived Stress and Interpersonal Relationships [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2024, 40(6): 865-876.
[15] ZHANG Ye, CHEN Jiahui, REN Ping, WANG Quanquan. The Relationship between Bullying Victimization and Non-suicidal Self-injury: The Mediating Role of Loneliness and the Moderating Role of Teacher Justice [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2024, 40(6): 877-885.
Viewed
Full text


Abstract

Cited
  Shared   
  Discussed   
No Suggested Reading articles found!
Copyright 2018 © Editorial office of Psychological Development and Education
Supported by Beijing Magtech Co.Ltd