Link Between Parent-Emerging Adult Relationship Quality and Emerging Adult Physical Health: An Examination of Mediators and Moderators

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the link between parent-emerging adult relationship quality and emerging adult physical health outcomes. In addition, mediators and moderators of these links were explored. The sample consisted of 869 college students (ages 18–25 years) who completed online anonymous surveys. Results indicated that high levels of parent-emerging adult openness were significantly related to low levels of emerging adult health problems. In addition, parental involvement was negatively and significantly related to emerging adult body mass index and health problems. Mediation analyses conducted through structural equation modeling demonstrated that parent-emerging adult relationship quality was indirectly (but not directly) related to youth health outcomes via emerging adult internalizing symptoms (but not via emotion regulation). Moreover, there was no evidence for significant gender differences, therefore the overall pattern of findings were similar for women and men. Implications for interventions focusing on parent-emerging adult relationships and emotion regulation were discussed.