Parental monitoring behaviors: A model of rules, supervision, and conflict

A model of parental monitoring behaviors, comprising rule setting and supervision, was proposed. The hypothesized relationship between rules, supervision, conflict, and adolescent problem behavior was tested using structured equation modeling on self-report data from 1,285 adolescents aged 14 to 15 years. The model was an adequate fit of the data, accounting for 40% of the variance in problem behavior. Specifically, lax rules predicted poor supervision and high conflict. High conflict and low supervision were predictors of the adolescent problem behavior construct, which encompassed conduct problems, rebelliousness, and sensation seeking. Adequate rules appear to form the foundation for better supervision and less conflict, and hence lower levels of adolescent problem behaviors.