The Unique Contribution of Four Maternal Stressors to Adolescent Functioning

Abstract

The relation of personal (depressed mood and physical problems) and interpersonal (marital status and interparental conflict) maternal stressors to young adolescent functioning was examined. The subjects were 270 young adolescents (135 females and 135 males). Mothers completed measures concerning the four stressors, and a teacher completed measures about three areas of adolescent functioning: internalizing problems, externalizing problems, and grades. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were used to investigate the independent contribution of each of the stressors as predictors of functioning in the young adolescents. Either interparental conflict or marital status was related to each area of functioning for boys and to internalizing problems and grades for girls. Maternal depression was a significant predictor only for internalizing problems of girls. Interpersonal variables appear to be more important for the functioning of young adolescents than do personal variables. Implications of the findings, as well as important areas for future research, are discussed.

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