Longitudinal Associations Between Maternal Solicitation, Perceived Maternal Acceptance, Adolescent Self-Disclosure, and Adolescent Externalizing Behaviors

The current study examined prospective associations between maternal solicitation and acceptance, adolescent self-disclosure, and adolescent externalizing behaviors. Participants included 357 urban adolescents (46% male; 92% African American) and their maternal caregivers. Participants provided data annually (three waves across 2-year time frame). Results of a three-wave longitudinal path model demonstrated that adolescent self-disclosure was related to higher rates of maternal solicitation and lower frequencies of externalizing behaviors. Maternal solicitation was associated with higher rates of maternal acceptance. Maternal acceptance was positively associated with adolescent self-disclosure and indirectly associated with lower frequencies of adolescent externalizing behaviors via higher levels of adolescent self-disclosure. Associations did not differ by sex or age. Understanding factors that contribute to adolescent self-disclosure and maternal acceptance are important, as they appear to have protective influences on externalizing behaviors.