Frontiers in psychology
How negative parenting relates to adolescents' perceptions of older adults: the roles of empathy and intergenerational contact
By Lin J, Pan C and Gao D.
Abstract
Introduction
Grounded in social learning theory, this study examines how negative parenting practices are associated with adolescents' perceptions of older adults and investigates the roles of empathy and intergenerational contact in this process.
Methods
Data were collected from 2,011 Chinese adolescents using a three-wave longitudinal design. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesized relationships.
Results
Negative parenting was significantly associated with less favorable evaluations of older adults on both the warmth and competence dimensions. Empathy mediated these relationships. Intergenerational contact further moderated the association between empathy and adolescents' perceptions of older adults. Specifically, the indirect effects of negative parenting through empathy varied according to adolescents' levels of intergenerational contact.