RESEARCH ARTICLE
Parent–adolescent reminiscing and youth psychopathology: A cross-sectional and longitudinal investigation
Mary N. Dewhirst,
Matt D. Hammond,
Karen Salmon,
Corresponding Author
Mary N. Dewhirst
School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington/Te Herenga Waka, Wellington, New Zealand
Correspondence Mary N. Dewhirst, Victoria University of Wellington, Kelburn Pde, Wellington, New Zealand.
Email: [email protected] and
Search for more papers by this authorMatt D. Hammond
School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington/Te Herenga Waka, Wellington, New Zealand
Search for more papers by this authorKaren Salmon
School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington/Te Herenga Waka, Wellington, New Zealand
Search for more papers by this authorMary N. Dewhirst,
Matt D. Hammond,
Karen Salmon,
Corresponding Author
Mary N. Dewhirst
School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington/Te Herenga Waka, Wellington, New Zealand
Correspondence Mary N. Dewhirst, Victoria University of Wellington, Kelburn Pde, Wellington, New Zealand.
Email: [email protected] and
Search for more papers by this authorMatt D. Hammond
School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington/Te Herenga Waka, Wellington, New Zealand
Search for more papers by this authorKaren Salmon
School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington/Te Herenga Waka, Wellington, New Zealand
Search for more papers by this authorFirst published: 09 March 2023
Abstract
Introduction
Robust research links qualities of parent–child discussions about past emotion-laden events to socioemotional development and broader psychological outcomes during childhood. The role of parent–adolescent reminiscing in adolescent psychological adjustment, however, has received less attention, despite adolescence being a time of heightened vulnerability for the development of internalizing symptoms. In the current multimethod study, we investigated cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between the qualities of conversations between mothers and adolescents (ages 13–16) and adolescents' internalizing problems.
Methods
Participants were 67 mother–adolescent dyads (total N = 134, 58.8% of youth identified as female) located across regions of New Zealand/Aotearoa. Each dyad discussed a past shared conflict, coded for supportive and unsupportive reminiscing conversational qualities with an adapted dyadic coding scheme. Youth internalizing symptoms were assessed at two-time points, 12-month apart.
Results
Dyadic structural equation modeling analyzed cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between conversational qualities and adolescents' internalizing problems. Findings indicated concurrent associations between unsupportive mother–adolescent reminiscing qualities and heightened youth anxiety symptoms: Specifically, mothers' avoidance and lower levels of emotion discussion and adolescents' emotional disengagement were linked to greater youth anxiety symptoms. Moreover, increases in youth anxiety symptoms 12 months later were weaker for youth who engaged in greater levels of the supportive reminiscing qualities of balanced emotion discussion and active problem-solving.
Conclusions
These novel findings highlight the transactional nature and complex dynamics of reminiscing during adolescence and their relationship with youth mental health, which has implications for theory and clinical practice.
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