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We examined whether the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI; Davis, 1980Davis, M. H. 1980. A multidimensional approach to individual differences in empathy. Catalog of Selected Documents in Psychology, 10: 85 [Google Scholar] ), consisting of Perspective Taking (PT), Empathic Concern (EC), Personal Distress (PD), and Fantasy (FN), is a psychometrically invariant empathy measure for early and late adolescents and their mothers. Confirmatory factor analyses demonstrated adequate properties and psychometric invariance across 2 Dutch samples (269 early adolescents, 232 late adolescents). Females scored higher than males on each subscale. Early adolescents scored lower than late adolescents on PT and FN, and higher on PD. The different groups showed similar subscale associations with psychosocial health indexes, and similar subscale contributions to a higher order empathy dimension. Most dimensions showed positive correlations between adolescents and mothers. The IRI appears adequate for examining empathy across the span of adolescence, as well as patterns between youths and mothers.

VU University Medical Center, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Curium, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands Departments of Criminology, Psychiatry, and Psychology, Jerry Lee Center of Criminology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA Utrecht University, Research Center Adolescent Development, Utrecht, The Netherlands VU University, Department of Developmental Psychology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Tilburg University, Tilburg School of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Tilburg, The Netherlands

We examined the potential moderating role of Block's personality types (i.e., overcontrollers, undercontrollers, and resilients) on the longitudinal associations between adolescents’ and their best friends’ delinquency. Across three annual waves, 497 Dutch adolescents (283 boys, MAge = 13 years at Wave 1) and their best friends reported on their delinquent behaviors. Adolescents’ three personality types were obtained by latent class growth analysis on their annual reports on Big Five personality. A three‐group cross‐lagged panel analysis was performed on three waves of data. Delinquency of overcontrollers was predicted by their best friends’ delinquency, whereas delinquency of undercontrollers and resilients was not. Delinquency of undercontrollers and resilients predicted their best friends’ delinquency, but overcontrollers’ delinquency did not. These findings suggest that personality may play an important role in adolescents’ susceptibility to the influence of friends’ delinquency, as well as in youths’ ability to influence friends through their own delinquency.

This 3-year, multi-informant study examined whether youths’ perceptions of parental privacy invasion predicted lower parental knowledge over time, as a function of increased adolescent secrecy. Participants were 497 Dutch adolescents (Time 1 M = 13 years, SD = 0.5; 57% boys) and both parents. Higher youth-reported invasion predicted lower father- and mother-reported knowledge 1 year later. A link between privacy invasion and youths’ increased secrecy mediated the association between privacy invasion and mothers’ lower knowledge. Further, mothers’ perceptions of adolescent secrecy mediated the association between adolescent-reported secrecy and mothers’ knowledge. No mediation existed for father-report models. The results suggest that privacy invasion is counterproductive to parents’ efforts to remain knowledgeable about youths, due to increased adolescent secrecy. We discuss the implications for family communication processes and successful privacy negotiations during adolescence.

In deze longitudinale studie werd onderzocht of het verbieden van vriendschappen door ouders een effectieve strategie is om de invloed van delinquente vrienden tegen te gaan. 497 Nederlandse adolescenten (283 jongens, dertien jaar bij de eerste meting), hun beste vrienden en hun beide ouders vulden vragenlijsten in. Longitudinale ‘kruispad’-modellen toonden sterke effecten van omgang met delinquente vrienden op delinquentie van de adolescenten zelf. Het verbieden van vriendschappen door vaders of moeders hing samen met een toename in de omgang met delinquente vrienden, en hing indirect samen met meer delinquentie bij adolescenten. Deze resultaten suggereren dat verboden vrienden ‘verboden vruchten’ zouden kunnen worden, die bijdragen aan kleine criminaliteit bij adolescenten.

In deze longitudinale studie werd onderzocht of het verbieden van vriendschappen door ouders een effectieve strategie is om de invloed van delinquente vrienden tegen te gaan. 497 Nederlandse adolescenten (283 jongens, dertien jaar bij de eerste meting), hun beste vrienden en hun beide ouders vulden vragenlijsten in. Longitudinale ‘kruispad’-modellen toonden sterke effecten van omgang met delinquente vrienden op delinquentie van de adolescenten zelf. Het verbieden van vriendschappen door vaders of moeders hing samen met een toename in de omgang met delinquente vrienden, en hing indirect samen met meer delinquentie bij adolescenten. Deze resultaten suggereren dat verboden vrienden ‘verboden vruchten’ zouden kunnen worden, die bijdragen aan kleine criminaliteit bij adolescenten.

We examined the potential moderating role of Block's personality types (i.e., overcontrollers, undercontrollers, and resilients) on the longitudinal associations between adolescents’ and their best friends’ delinquency. Across three annual waves, 497 Dutch adolescents (283 boys, MAge = 13 years at Wave 1) and their best friends reported on their delinquent behaviors. Adolescents’ three personality types were obtained by latent class growth analysis on their annual reports on Big Five personality. A three-group cross-lagged panel analysis was performed on three waves of data. Delinquency of overcontrollers was predicted by their best friends’ delinquency, whereas delinquency of undercontrollers and resilients was not. Delinquency of undercontrollers and resilients predicted their best friends’ delinquency, but overcontrollers’ delinquency did not. These findings suggest that personality may play an important role in adolescents’ susceptibility to the influence of friends’ delinquency, as well as in youths’ ability to influence friends through their own delinquency.

This 3-year, multi-informant study examined whether youths’ perceptions of parental privacy invasion predicted lower parental knowledge over time, as a function of increased adolescent secrecy. Participants were 497 Dutch adolescents (Time 1 M = 13 years, SD = 0.5; 57% boys) and both parents. Higher youth-reported invasion predicted lower father- and mother-reported knowledge 1 year later. A link between privacy invasion and youths’ increased secrecy mediated the association between privacy invasion and mothers’ lower knowledge. Further, mothers’ perceptions of adolescent secrecy mediated the association between adolescent-reported secrecy and mothers’ knowledge. No mediation existed for father-report models. The results suggest that privacy invasion is counterproductive to parents’ efforts to remain knowledgeable about youths, due to increased adolescent secrecy. We discuss the implications for family communication processes and successful privacy negotiations during adolescence.

Background: This study tested the theoretical assumption that transformations of parent‐child relationships in late childhood and adolescence would differ for boys following different offending trajectories. Methods: Using longitudinal multiinformant data of 503 boys (ages 7–19), we conducted Growth Mixture Modeling to extract offending trajectories. Developmental changes in child reports of parent‐child joint activities and relationship quality were examined using Latent Growth Curves. Results: Five offending trajectories were found: non‐offenders, moderate childhood offenders, adolescent‐limited offenders, serious childhood offenders, and serious persistent offenders. Non‐offenders reported high and stable levels of relationship quality between age 10 and 16. Adolescent‐limited offenders reported a similarly high relationship quality as non‐offenders at ages 7 and 10, but a lower and decreasing relationship quality in adolescence. Compared with non‐offenders, serious persistent offenders reported poorer parent‐child relationship quality at all ages, and a decreasing relationship quality in adolescence. Serious persistent offenders and adolescent‐limited offenders reported similar levels and changes in parent‐child relationship quality in adolescence. Although serious persistent offenders reported fewer joint activities at age 10 and 13 than non‐offenders, a similar linear decrease in joint activities in early to middle adolescence was found for boys in each trajectory. Conclusion: Developmental changes in parent‐child relationship quality differ for different types of offenders. This finding has scientific and practical implications.

Background: This study tested the theoretical assumption that transformations of parent‐child relationships in late childhood and adolescence would differ for boys following different offending trajectories. Methods: Using longitudinal multiinformant data of 503 boys (ages 7–19), we conducted Growth Mixture Modeling to extract offending trajectories. Developmental changes in child reports of parent‐child joint activities and relationship quality were examined using Latent Growth Curves. Results: Five offending trajectories were found: non‐offenders, moderate childhood offenders, adolescent‐limited offenders, serious childhood offenders, and serious persistent offenders. Non‐offenders reported high and stable levels of relationship quality between age 10 and 16. Adolescent‐limited offenders reported a similarly high relationship quality as non‐offenders at ages 7 and 10, but a lower and decreasing relationship quality in adolescence. Compared with non‐offenders, serious persistent offenders reported poorer parent‐child relationship quality at all ages, and a decreasing relationship quality in adolescence. Serious persistent offenders and adolescent‐limited offenders reported similar levels and changes in parent‐child relationship quality in adolescence. Although serious persistent offenders reported fewer joint activities at age 10 and 13 than non‐offenders, a similar linear decrease in joint activities in early to middle adolescence was found for boys in each trajectory. Conclusion: Developmental changes in parent‐child relationship quality differ for different types of offenders. This finding has scientific and practical implications.

Spending leisure time with deviant peers may have strong influences on adolescents’ delinquency. The current 3‐wave multi‐informant study examined how parental control and parental prohibition of friendships relate to these undesirable peer influences. To this end, annual questionnaires were administered to 497 Dutch youths (283 boys, mean age = 13 years at baseline), their best friends, and both parents. Cross‐lagged panel analyses revealed strong longitudinal links from contacts with deviant peers to adolescent delinquency, but not vice versa. Parent‐reported prohibition of friendships positively predicted contacts with deviant peers and indirectly predicted higher adolescent delinquency. Similar indirect effects were not found for parental control. The results suggest that forbidden friends may become “forbidden fruit,” leading to unintended increases in adolescents’ own delinquency.

Spending leisure time with deviant peers may have strong influences on adolescents’ delinquency. The current 3‐wave multi‐informant study examined how parental control and parental prohibition of friendships relate to these undesirable peer influences. To this end, annual questionnaires were administered to 497 Dutch youths (283 boys, mean age = 13 years at baseline), their best friends, and both parents. Cross‐lagged panel analyses revealed strong longitudinal links from contacts with deviant peers to adolescent delinquency, but not vice versa. Parent‐reported prohibition of friendships positively predicted contacts with deviant peers and indirectly predicted higher adolescent delinquency. Similar indirect effects were not found for parental control. The results suggest that forbidden friends may become “forbidden fruit,” leading to unintended increases in adolescents’ own delinquency.

Background: In previous studies, maternal expressed emotion (EE) has been found to be a good predictor of the course of adolescent internalizing and externalizing symptoms. However, these studies have been cross‐section as opposed to longitudinal. The goal of this study is to examine longitudinal data of perceived maternal EE and adolescent internalizing and externalizing symptoms to determine if maternal EE affected the course of adolescent symptoms (a parent effect model), or if the course of adolescent symptoms affected maternal EE (a child effect model), or if maternal EE and adolescent symptoms affected one another bidirectionally. Methods: Dutch adolescents (N = 497; 57% boys; M = 13 years) from the general community and their mothers were prospectively studied annually for three years. At all waves the mothers completed the Level of Expressed Emotion (LEE) questionnaire and the adolescents completed self‐rated measures of internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the longitudinal data. Results: The results of the SEM analyses clearly demonstrate that a child effect model best describes the relationship between maternal EE and the course of adolescent internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Conclusions: This longitudinal study of the mothers’ EE perceptions suggests that it is the course of the internalizing and externalizing symptoms of adolescents from the general community that affects maternal EE, and not the mothers’ perceived EE influencing the course of the adolescents’ symptoms. Since this study was based on adolescents from the general community, it is suggested that these findings should also be replicated in clinical samples of adolescents.

This study examined different types of longitudinal associations (i.e., directional links and overlapping developmental changes) between children's delinquency and the quality of parent-child relationships from middle childhood to late adolescence. We used 10-wave interview data of 503 boys, their primary caregivers, and their teachers. Our first aim was to unravel the direction of effects between parent-child relationships and children's offending. Cross-lagged panel models revealed bidirectional links over time between poorer quality parent-child relationships and boys' offending across late childhood (age 7-10), early adolescence (age 10-13) and middle adolescence (age 13-16). Second, we examined the associations between mean changes in delinquency, on the one hand, and mean changes in relationship quality, on the other hand. Although parent-child relationships improved during childhood, their quality decreased in early adolescence and remained stable in middle adolescence. Delinquency increased only in middle adolescence. In five out of six models, the slope factors of relationship quality and offending were strongly correlated, indicating that stronger increases in delinquency were associated with stronger decreases in parent-child relationship quality across childhood, early adolescence, and middle adolescence. The discussion focuses on the theoretical implications of these two types of longitudinal associations.

This study examined different types of longitudinal associations (i.e., directional links and overlapping developmental changes) between children's delinquency and the quality of parent-child relationships from middle childhood to late adolescence. We used 10-wave interview data of 503 boys, their primary caregivers, and their teachers. Our first aim was to unravel the direction of effects between parent-child relationships and children's offending. Cross-lagged panel models revealed bidirectional links over time between poorer quality parent-child relationships and boys' offending across late childhood (age 7-10), early adolescence (age 10-13) and middle adolescence (age 13-16). Second, we examined the associations between mean changes in delinquency, on the one hand, and mean changes in relationship quality, on the other hand. Although parent-child relationships improved during childhood, their quality decreased in early adolescence and remained stable in middle adolescence. Delinquency increased only in middle adolescence. In five out of six models, the slope factors of relationship quality and offending were strongly correlated, indicating that stronger increases in delinquency were associated with stronger decreases in parent-child relationship quality across childhood, early adolescence, and middle adolescence. The discussion focuses on the theoretical implications of these two types of longitudinal associations.

Deze studie onderzocht de normatieve ontwikkeling van geheimen die adolescenten hebben voor hun ouders. 149 jongens en 160 meisjes (gemiddelde leeftijdT1 = 13.2; SD = 0.5) rapporteerden vier achtereenvolgende jaren over de mate waarin ze geheimen voor hun ouders hadden en over de kwaliteit van de ouder-kindrelatie. Analyses toonden dat jongeren steeds meer geheimhouden naarmate ze ouder worden. Deze toename was sterker voor jongens dan voor meisjes. Verder lieten analyses duidelijke verbanden zien tussen geheimen en een minder goede ouder-kindrelatiekwaliteit een jaar later bij meisjes. De discussie richt zich op verschillende betekenissen van geheimen bij jongens en meisjes en de implicaties van dit onderzoek voor de pedagogische praktijk.

The psychometric characteristics of Carver and White's (1994) BIS/BAS scales were examined in 2 groups of Dutch adolescents (497 early adolescents and 237 middle adolescents, M Age = 13.0 years and 16.4 years, respectively) and their middle-aged mothers (M Age = 45.2 years; N = 734). Confirmatory factor analyses revealed an acceptably fitting 2-factor model for adapted BIS /BAS scales in all 3 groups, reflecting separate BIS and BAS factors. Reliabilities of the 2 scales were satisfactory. The results supported the convergent validity of BIS and BAS scales. BIS was positively correlated with internalizing problem behaviors and neuroticism. BAS was positively correlated with externalizing problem behaviors and extraversion. The discriminant validity of the BIS/BAS scales received mixed support in our data. BIS was negatively correlated with extraversion, and BAS was not correlated with depression. However, BIS was also found to be correlated with externalizing problem behaviors, and BAS was positively correlated with neuroticism. In sum, the scales are suitable for use in research settings, but caution is advocated in application for clinical practice.

Recent onderzoek heeft aangetoond dat jongeren die weinig vertellen aan hun ouders vaker depressief en delinquent zijn. In deze studie stelden we dat een veelgebruikt instrument om te meten hoeveel jongeren vertellen aan hun ouders mogelijk bestaat uit twee componenten: ‘geheimhouden’ en ‘vertellen’. Ook hebben we getoetst of het verband tussen het hebben van geheimen en probleemgedrag mogelijk kan verklaren waarom weinig vertellen aan ouders gerelateerd was aan probleemgedrag in eerder onderzoek. Daartoe werd gebruikgemaakt van een longitudinale dataset met vier metingen bij 309 Nederlandse adolescenten (48% jongens; eerste meting gemiddeld 13.2 jaar oud). Factoranalyses toonden aan dat ‘vertellen’ en ‘geheimen houden’ twee afzonderlijke concepten zijn. Bovendien vertoonden jongeren die veel geheim hielden een jaar later relatief meer depressie en delinquentie, terwijl een dergelijk verband niet werd gevonden voor jongeren die weinig aan hun ouders vertelden. Daarmee geeft deze studie een nieuwe interpretatie aan het werk van Stattin en Kerr en anderen: Het verband tussen weinig vertellen aan ouders en probleemgedrag wordt mogelijk verklaard door een veel sterker verband tussen het hebben van geheimen en probleemgedrag.

Background: In previous studies, maternal expressed emotion (EE) has been found to be a good predictor of the course of adolescent internalizing and externalizing symptoms. However, these studies have been cross-section as opposed to longitudinal. The goal of this study is to examine longitudinal data of perceived maternal EE and adolescent internalizing and externalizing symptoms to determine if maternal EE affected the course of adolescent symptoms (a parent effect model), or if the course of adolescent symptoms affected maternal EE (a child effect model), or if maternal EE and adolescent symptoms affected one another bidirectionally. Methods: Dutch adolescents (N = 497; 57% boys; M = 13 years) from the general community and their mothers were prospectively studied annually for three years. At all waves the mothers completed the Level of Expressed Emotion (LEE) questionnaire and the adolescents completed self-rated measures of internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the longitudinal data. Results: The results of the SEM analyses clearly demonstrate that a child effect model best describes the relationship between maternal EE and the course of adolescent internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Conclusions: This longitudinal study of the mothers' EE perceptions suggests that it is the course of the internalizing and externalizing symptoms of adolescents from the general community that affects maternal EE, and not the mothers' perceived EE influencing the course of the adolescents' symptoms. Since this study was based on adolescents from the general community, it is suggested that these findings should also be replicated in clinical samples of adolescents. © 2011 Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health.

Deze 4-jarige studie bij 309 adolescenten onderzocht of veranderingen in ouder-kind communicatie en een toename in kleine criminaliteit gerelateerde processen zijn. Adolescenten rapporteerden jaarlijks over hoeveel zij vertelden aan hun ouders en hoeveel vragen, controle en steun ze ervaarden van hun ouders. Ook rapporteerden ze over hun betrokkenheid bij delinquente activiteiten, zoals graffiti, vandalisme en winkeldiefstal. Latente Groei Modellen toonden dat jongeren, naarmate ze ouder worden, steeds minder vertellen aan hun ouders. Ook controle door ouders nam af in de adolescentie. De mate waarin ouders vragen stellen veranderde niet. Een sterkere afname in hoeveel jongeren vertellen was gerelateerd aan een toename in delinquentie. Bij jongeren die veel steun van ouders ervaarden, was er een verband tussen een minder snelle afname in controle en een toename in delinquentie. Bij jongeren die weinig steun ervaarden was dit verband er niet: Bij deze groep werd juist een verband gevonden tussen hoge beginniveaus van delinquentie en een snellere afname in controle door ouders. De discussie bespreekt theoretische en praktische implicaties van deze bevindingen.

Recent research has identified adolescent disclosure to parents as a powerful predictor of adolescent adjustment. We propose, however, that the common operationalization of adolescent disclosure incorporates the two separate constructs of disclosure and secrecy, and predicted that the disclosure–adjustment link can largely be explained by the unique contribution of secrecy from parents. A four-wave survey study among 309 adolescents tested these predictions. Factor analyses confirmed that disclosure and secrecy should be distinguished as two separate constructs. Moreover, in cross-lagged path analyses, only secrecy was a longitudinal predictor of adolescent internalizing (i.e., depression) and externalizing (i.e., delinquency) problems, disclosure was not. Secrecy consistently contributed to the longitudinal prediction of delinquency from early to middle adolescence, whereas it contributed to the prediction of depression only in early adolescence. Findings thus attest the importance of distinguishing between disclosure and secrecy and suggest that the disclosure–adjustment link may actually reflect a secrecy-maladjustment link.

Recent research has identified adolescent disclosure to parents as a powerful predictor of adolescent adjustment. We propose, however, that the common operationalization of adolescent disclosure incorporates the two separate constructs of disclosure and secrecy, and predicted that the disclosure–adjustment link can largely be explained by the unique contribution of secrecy from parents. A four-wave survey study among 309 adolescents tested these predictions. Factor analyses confirmed that disclosure and secrecy should be distinguished as two separate constructs. Moreover, in cross-lagged path analyses, only secrecy was a longitudinal predictor of adolescent internalizing (i.e., depression) and externalizing (i.e., delinquency) problems, disclosure was not. Secrecy consistently contributed to the longitudinal prediction of delinquency from early to middle adolescence, whereas it contributed to the prediction of depression only in early adolescence. Findings thus attest the importance of distinguishing between disclosure and secrecy and suggest that the disclosure–adjustment link may actually reflect a secrecy-maladjustment link.

The current longitudinal study examined adolescent gender differences in the developmental changes and relational correlates of secrecy from parents. For 4 successive years, starting in the second year of junior high (mean age at Time 1 = 13.2 years, SD = 0.51), 149 male and 160 female Dutch adolescents reported on secrecy from their parents and the quality of the parent-child relationship. Latent growth curve modeling revealed a linear increase in secrecy, which was significantly faster for boys than for girls. Moreover, cross-lagged panel analyses showed clear concurrent and longitudinal linkages between secrecy from parents and poorer parent-child relationship quality in girls. In boys, much less strong linkages were found between poorer relationships and secrecy from parents.

Deze 4-jarige studie bij 309 adolescenten onderzocht of veranderingen in ouder-kind communicatie en een toename in kleine criminaliteit gerelateerde processen zijn. Adolescenten rapporteerden jaarlijks over hoeveel zij vertelden aan hun ouders en hoeveel vragen, controle en steun ze ervaarden van hun ouders. Ook rapporteerden ze over hun betrokkenheid bij delinquente activiteiten, zoals graffiti, vandalisme en winkeldiefstal. Latente Groei Modellen toonden dat jongeren, naarmate ze ouder worden, steeds minder vertellen aan hun ouders. Ook controle door ouders nam af in de adolescentie. De mate waarin ouders vragen stellen veranderde niet. Een sterkere afname in hoeveel jongeren vertellen was gerelateerd aan een toename in delinquentie. Bij jongeren die veel steun van ouders ervaarden, was er een verband tussen een minder snelle afname in controle en een toename in delinquentie. Bij jongeren die weinig steun ervaarden was dit verband er niet: Bij deze groep werd juist een verband gevonden tussen hoge beginniveaus van delinquentie en een snellere afname in controle door ouders. De discussie bespreekt theoretische en praktische implicaties van deze bevindingen.

This two‐wave multi‐informant study examined the bidirectional associations of parental control and solicitation with adolescent disclosure and delinquency. Participants were 289 adolescents (150 females and 139 males, modal age 14) and both parents. Parental solicitation and control did not predict adolescent delinquency, but adolescents' self‐reported disclosure was a negative predictor of delinquency. In addition, delinquency predicted less disclosure. Furthermore, maternal solicitation predicted disclosure and adolescent disclosure predicted parental solicitation. All relations held after controlling for leisure time spent with parents and with peers. These longitudinal findings show an overlap in the development of parental solicitation and the development of adolescent disclosure, but also show that only adolescent disclosure is negatively related to delinquency over time.

Deze studie onderzocht de normatieve ontwikkeling van geheimen die adolescenten hebben voor hun ouders. 149 jongens en 160 meisjes (gemiddelde leeftijdT1 = 13.2; SD = 0.5) rapporteerden vier achtereenvolgende jaren over de mate waarin ze geheimen voor hun ouders hadden en over de kwaliteit van de ouder-kindrelatie. Analyses toonden dat jongeren steeds meer geheimhouden naarmate ze ouder worden. Deze toename was sterker voor jongens dan voor meisjes. Verder lieten analyses duidelijke verbanden zien tussen geheimen en een minder goede ouder-kindrelatiekwaliteit een jaar later bij meisjes. De discussie richt zich op verschillende betekenissen van geheimen bij jongens en meisjes en de implicaties van dit onderzoek voor de pedagogische praktijk.

This 4-wave study among 309 Dutch adolescents and their parents examined changes in adolescent disclosure, parental solicitation, and parental control and their links with the development of delinquent activities. Annually, adolescents and both parents reported on adolescent disclosure, parental solicitation, and parental control, and adolescents reported on delinquent activities and parental support. Latent growth curve analyses revealed a linear decline in parental control between ages 13 and 16. Adolescent disclosure decreased gradually in adolescent reports and showed an L-shaped pattern in father reports and a V-shaped pattern in mother reports. A stronger increase in delinquent activities was related to a stronger decrease in disclosure in mother and adolescent reports and to lower levels of disclosure in father reports. The linkages between levels of disclosure and delinquent activities were stronger in families with high parental support than in families with lower support. Furthermore, in lower parental support families, a stronger decrease in paternal control was related to a stronger increase in delinquent activities. In high parental support families, however, a stronger decrease in adolescent-reported parental control was related to a less strong increase in delinquent activities.

Some Teens Tell No Tales. Parent-Child Communication and Delinquency by Adolescents In this two-wave study amongst 289 adolescents and both parents (150 females and 139 males, modal age 14), we examined the linkages of parent-adolescent communication with delinquent activities. Boys' and girls' self-reported disclosure was a negative predictor of delinquency over time, and delinquency predicted less disclosure a year later. However, parental solicitation and control did not predict adolescent delinquency.Thus, these cross-sectional and longitudinal findings show that adolescent disclosure (not parental monitoring) is negatively linked to delinquency.

Some Teens Tell No Tales. Parent-Child Communication and Delinquency by Adolescents In this two-wave study amongst 289 adolescents and both parents (150 females and 139 males, modal age 14), we examined the linkages of parent-adolescent communication with delinquent activities. Boys' and girls' self-reported disclosure was a negative predictor of delinquency over time, and delinquency predicted less disclosure a year later. However, parental solicitation and control did not predict adolescent delinquency.Thus, these cross-sectional and longitudinal findings show that adolescent disclosure (not parental monitoring) is negatively linked to delinquency.

The psychometric characteristics of Carver and White's (1994) BIS/BAS scales were examined in 2 groups of Dutch adolescents (497 early adolescents and 237 middle adolescents, M (Age) = 13.0 years and 16.4 years, respectively) and their middle-aged mothers (M (Age) = 45.2 years; N = 734). Confirmatory factor analyses revealed an acceptably fitting 2-factor model for adapted BIS /BAS scales in all 3 groups, reflecting separate BIS and BAS factors. Reliabilities of the 2 scales were satisfactory. The results supported the convergent validity of BIS and BAS scales. BIS was positively correlated with internalizing problem behaviors and neuroticism. BAS was positively correlated with externalizing problem behaviors and extraversion. The discriminant validity of the BIS/BAS scales received mixed support in our data. BIS was negatively correlated with extraversion, and BAS was not correlated with depression. However, BIS was also found to be correlated with externalizing problem behaviors, and BAS was positively correlated with neuroticism. In sum, the scales are suitable for use in research settings, but caution is advocated in application for clinical practice.

Recent onderzoek heeft aangetoond dat jongeren die weinig vertellen aan hun ouders vaker depressief en delinquent zijn. In deze studie stelden we dat een veelgebruikt instrument om te meten hoeveel jongeren vertellen aan hun ouders mogelijk bestaat uit twee componenten: ‘geheimhouden’ en ‘vertellen’. Ook hebben we getoetst of het verband tussen het hebben van geheimen en probleemgedrag mogelijk kan verklaren waarom weinig vertellen aan ouders gerelateerd was aan probleemgedrag in eerder onderzoek. Daartoe werd gebruikgemaakt van een longitudinale dataset met vier metingen bij 309 Nederlandse adolescenten (48% jongens; eerste meting gemiddeld 13.2 jaar oud). Factoranalyses toonden aan dat ‘vertellen’ en ‘geheimen houden’ twee afzonderlijke concepten zijn. Bovendien vertoonden jongeren die veel geheim hielden een jaar later relatief meer depressie en delinquentie, terwijl een dergelijk verband niet werd gevonden voor jongeren die weinig aan hun ouders vertelden. Daarmee geeft deze studie een nieuwe interpretatie aan het werk van Stattin en Kerr en anderen: Het verband tussen weinig vertellen aan ouders en probleemgedrag wordt mogelijk verklaard door een veel sterker verband tussen het hebben van geheimen en probleemgedrag.

This two‐wave multi‐informant study examined the bidirectional associations of parental control and solicitation with adolescent disclosure and delinquency. Participants were 289 adolescents (150 females and 139 males, modal age 14) and both parents. Parental solicitation and control did not predict adolescent delinquency, but adolescents' self‐reported disclosure was a negative predictor of delinquency. In addition, delinquency predicted less disclosure. Furthermore, maternal solicitation predicted disclosure and adolescent disclosure predicted parental solicitation. All relations held after controlling for leisure time spent with parents and with peers. These longitudinal findings show an overlap in the development of parental solicitation and the development of adolescent disclosure, but also show that only adolescent disclosure is negatively related to delinquency over time.

This 4-wave study among 309 Dutch adolescents and their parents examined changes in adolescent disclosure, parental solicitation, and parental control and their links with the development of delinquent activities. Annually, adolescents and both parents reported on adolescent disclosure, parental solicitation, and parental control, and adolescents reported on delinquent activities and parental support. Latent growth curve analyses revealed a linear decline in parental control between ages 13 and 16. Adolescent disclosure decreased gradually in adolescent reports and showed an L-shaped pattern in father reports and a V-shaped pattern in mother reports. A stronger increase in delinquent activities was related to a stronger decrease in disclosure in mother and adolescent reports and to lower levels of disclosure in father reports. The linkages between levels of disclosure and delinquent activities were stronger in families with high parental support than in families with lower support. Furthermore, in lower parental support families, a stronger decrease in paternal control was related to a stronger increase in delinquent activities. In high parental support families, however, a stronger decrease in adolescent-reported parental control was related to a less strong increase in delinquent activities.

The aim of this five-wave longitudinal study was to investigate the relationship between anxiety and adolescent identity development. Participants were 1,313 adolescents who annually completed measures of anxiety and identity. Growth Mixture Modeling (GMM) analyses demonstrated that the adolescent population was best typified by two latent growth trajectory classes: a low anxiety class (n = 1,199) characterized by a low initial level of anxiety that decreased over time and a high anxiety class (n = 114) characterized by a higher initial level of anxiety that increased over time. To answer our research question, we tested a model in which the anxiety classes predicted initial levels and rates of change of three identity dimensions: commitment, in-depth exploration, and reconsideration of commitment. Findings indicated that the high anxiety adolescents displayed a more troublesome identity development than their low anxiety peers, since their commitments became weaker with age, and they reconsidered them intensively. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.