Parentification, Attitude Towards Authority, and Adjustment

Parentification puts strain on the parent-child relationship potentially affecting the child’s outlook on authority. While these constructs have been investigated separately little research has been done to examine the long-term effects of parentification. This study investigated the relationship between childhood parentification, attitude towards authority, and internalizing behaviors. Participants completed the Filial Responsibility Scale, the Authority Behavior Inventory, and the Youthmap12. Higher levels of parentification were associated with lower acceptance of authority. Lower acceptance of authority was associated with high levels of internalizing behaviors within the last thirty days. Higher levels of parentification as a child was associated with higher levels of internalizing behaviors within the last thirty days. However, the effect of parentification on internalizing behaviors with in the last thirty days was not mediated by attitudes towards authority. This research deepens the understanding of how parentification in childhood affects attitudes towards authority as an adult, while also encouraging further research into different domains that could be affected by childhood parentification.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

MASTERS

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychological Science

Grantor

Texas Woman's University

Year dc:date.issued

2026

Author dc:creator

• Smith, Jessica

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Rosen, Lisa

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Zhang, Hansong
• Rivers, Alannah

• Authority
• Parentification
• Internalizing
• Adjustment

Language dc:language.iso

English

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/11274/17996

OAI record oai:identifier

https://twu-ir.tdl.org/server/oai/request?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=dim&identifier=oai%3Atwu-ir.tdl.org%3A11274%2F17996