Behavioural and psychological control during adolescence: an ecological systems perspective

Abstract

This study investigated the extent and the nature of the behavioural and psychological control experienced by adolescents within four contexts (parental, peer, school, and community) of their everyday lives. The adolescents (n = 463; female = 52.5%, black African = 69.3%; mean age = 15.69 years, SD = 2.86 years) were from six public high schools in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. The participants completed adapted versions of the Parents’ Psychological Control Scale and the Peer Control Scale. Multivariate analyses of variance revealed that in the school and community contexts, early adolescents and female participants experienced significantly higher levels of control than older adolescents and male participants. Female early adolescents experienced significantly higher levels of control (school behavioural control, community behavioural control, and community psychological control) specific to the school contexts which was in the form of psychological control. Findings of this study can inform community mentors and school counsellors of the important psychological and behavioural impact that community norms and school values have on how adolescents experience their social worlds and negotiate the boundaries of various social systems.