Parental Autonomy Support, Control Behaviors, Filial Closeness, and Filial Behaviors in Emerging Adults

Abstract

The current research aimed to assess the relationship between perceived parental autonomy support, perceived parental control behaviors, and filial behaviors with filial closeness acting as a mediator. Correlational study design was used with a sample of (N=218) emerging adults aged 18-25, recruited from universities of Islamabad, Pakistan through convenience sampling. Data was collected using Perceived Parental Autonomy Support Scale (P-PASS), Adult Filial Closeness Scale (AFCS) and Filial Behavior Scale (FBS), and analyzed by IBM SPSS 27.0.1. It was hypothesized that there will be a relationship of filial behaviors with perceived parental autonomy support and control behaviors; filial closeness will act as a mediator between autonomy support and filial behaviors, as well as between control behaviors and filial behaviors; and there will be culture based gender differences in filial behaviors, autonomy support and control behaviors. To test the hypothesis, Pearson Product Moment Correlation, Independent Sample T-Test and Mediation Analysis through PROCESS by Hayes were used. Results revealed that parental autonomy support was significantly found to positively predict filial behaviors, partially mediated by filial closeness. Parental controlling behaviors were significantly found to negatively predict filial behaviors, fully mediated by filial closeness. There were no significant gender differences in the study variables except for Perceived Parental Controlling Behaviors which were stronger in males. Implications of the result have relevance to the promotion of filial relationships, behaviors and healthy family dynamics.