Revisiting parental influence in individual political development: Democratic parenting in adolescence
Published Oct 2, 2018 · Lori D. Bougher
Applied Developmental Science
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Abstract
ABSTRACT Supporting developmental psychology’s emphasis on the effect of everyday experiences on civic development, this study tested whether parenting behaviors devoid of explicit political content were associated with dispositions to engage in conventional politics in young adulthood. Panel data from a unique collaboration revealed a direct and significant association between mother’s democratic parenting practices experienced from ages 10 to 14 and political interest in adulthood, and an indirect association with turnout and political trust. These associations were robust to the inclusion of adult personality, demographic controls, and traditional pathways of parental influence, including mother’s explicit political values, maternal education, and socio-economic status during childhood. The results highlight the role of nonpolitical interactions in conventional political development but also differential effects of mothers and fathers. This work reiterates the need for richer longitudinal data and holistic approaches to individual political development.