Behavioural and psychological control during adolescence: an ecological systems perspective
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Date
2022
Authors
Van Damme, Elizabeth Cornelia
Naude, Luzelle
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Routledge
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.
Description
Keywords
Behavioural and psychological control, Parental context, Peer context, School context, Community context, South African adolescents
Citation
Van Damme, E. C., & Naudé, L. (2022). Behavioural and psychological control during adolescence: An ecological systems perspective. Journal of Psychology in Africa, 32(6), 584-591. https://doi.org/10.1080/14330237.2022.2121466