Dynamics of parent-adolescent interactions during a discussion on career choice: The role of parental behaviors and emotions

Abstract

This study examined parental behaviors (autonomy support, control) toward their adolescent child as well as parents' and adolescents' positive and negative emotions experienced during parent-adolescent discussions on vocational decision-making. Research showed that repeated daily interactions provide the seeds to stable interactional patterns. Exploring short-term interactions allows to understand the process of behavioral and emotional change that takes place during discussions. Thus, a first goal was to identify and describe parental behaviors and emotions manifested by parents and adolescents during this discussion. Second, using a multilevel modeling approach, dynamic structural equation modeling (DSEM), simultaneous associations between parental behaviors and emotions were examined. The third goal was to examine the extent to which parental behaviors and parents' and adolescents' emotions predicted each other during this discussion. Parent-adolescent dyads (N = 42) participated in a discussion task on the adolescent's career choice, where parental behaviors were rated by observers, and emotions were detected with a facial expression recognition software. Results showed that parental autonomy is beneficial for adolescents in the short term (reduction of negative emotions). Also, the results showed that adolescents' emotions influence parental behaviors, suggesting that adolescents play an active role in the co-construction of their vocational project by leading the parent to adopt specific behaviors during the discussion. Finally, the emotions of parents and adolescents were dynamically interrelated, which indicates emotional contagion. These findings highlight the necessity to consider momentary parental behaviors and emotions to better understand parental contributions in vocational development.