Is it liberating and very demanding? Perceived parenting profiles, narcissism, and loneliness among adolescents from divorced families

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2020.110466

Commentary

This study examines the perceived parenting profiles among adolescents from divorced and non-divorced families and investigates the responses and changes in these different family structures (divorced vs. intact). It also investigates the association between perceived parenting profiles, narcissism, and family structure and loneliness. 

A total of 237 adolescents who had experienced parental divorce and 444 from non-divorced families were included in the study and completed a series of self-report questionnaires during class time.

The survey results indicated four perceived parenting profiles

・Liberated

・Supportive

・Harsh.

・Very demanding

Adolescents from divorced families were overrepresented in the emancipated, very harsh profile, while adolescents from families that were not divorced were overrepresented in the supportive profile.

In addition, moderation analysis showed that adolescents who were classified in the very harsh parent profile and had higher levels of narcissism had lower levels of loneliness than those who reported lower levels of narcissism.

This study showed that the presence or absence of narcissism is related to the　socially protective patterns of adolescents after divorce.